These are world’s most stunning ancient ruins

Our world is home to thousands of stunning ruins from civilizations that have long been forgotten after their fall. However there are some ancient monuments and buildings that are far more wondrous than others.

Deciding on the best ancient ruins to include in a list of the world’s top fifteen is not easy but there are a few places from past civilizations that are absolutely worth the visit if you ever find yourself close to them. 

First on the list is Delphi. This ancient Greek city was home to the Oracle of Apollo and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason. It’s a stunning display of architecture that is still very well-preserved. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By tamara semina, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Flavian Amphitheater, also known as the Colosseum, may be one of Rome’s greatest architectural achievements. It was built by the Flavian Emperor Vespasian between 70 and 72 CE according to National Geographic and is quite an impressive sight. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons  By FeaturedPics - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Any list of stunning ancient ruins wouldn’t be complete without the Athenian Parthenon. This ancient temple sat atop the Acropolis in Athens and was the culmination of Greece's architecture, claimed Britannica. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Sharon Mollerus - Parthenon, CC BY 2.0

Göbekli Tepe is much older than the previous entries on this list and it might be more in line with a list of prehistoric ruins rather than ancient ones. Built 11,000 years ago, it could be our world’s oldest temple according to Smithsonian Magazine. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Teomancimit - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

The American History Museum of Natural History pointed out that Petra was founded roughly 2000 years ago in what is today’s modern Jordan by Arabian nomads called the Nabateans. It eventually became a major hub of ancient trade.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

India is a land rich in ancient ruins but there are none more impressive than those of the sacred stepped water tank of Hampi. The whole city is impressive but the stepped water tank is the crown jewel of the Hampi's ruins. It dates to the early 1300s.  

Another impressive ruin close to India can be found in neighboring Pakistan, where the Indus River Valley civilization city of Moenjo Daro reveals the secrets of one of the world’s first organized civilizations next to those that cropped up in the Fertile Cresent. Moen jo Daro's history can be traced back roughly 5000 years. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Saqib Qayyum - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

China might be home to the most impressive collection of well-preserved ruins next to those that can be found in the former Roman world. Besides the Great Wall, the ancient city of Fenghuang founded in the 5th century might be China’s best. 

Another ruin you absolutely must see if you’re ever in China is Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, which is home to his famous Terracotta Army. They’re just as impressive as the burial mound they were entombed in and were buried sometime between 209 and 210 BCE .

Japan doesn’t have a lot of ancient wonders still standing. Much of the country was destroyed in World War II. However, there are a few good examples of impressive ruins that remain and one of the best is Himeji Castle, first built in the 1300s. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Niko Kitsakis - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Angkor Wat isn’t necessarily ancient since it was built in the 12th century by the Khmer Empire’s King Suryavarman II, but it's just too darn impressive to leave off this list. The complex’s towers are some of the finest architecture in the world. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Jakub Hałun - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Africa’s best known ruins are those of Egypt’s Giza Pyramids, but did you know there is another stunning set of ancient ruins just as impressive as the pyramids in Egypt? The Karnak Temple Complex should be a must visit, and it dates back to over 4000 years ago! 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Africa isn’t all about Egyptian ruins, however. The continent has a rich history of other civilizations and the ruins of Timbuktu, the capital city of the Mali Empire are worth a visit to see architecture unlike anything else in the world. 

The ancient South and Central American civilizations of the Incas and the Mayans have a lot of beautiful cities that they could boast about but few are as impressive as Machu Picchu. Unfortunately, it is rather new having been built in the 15th century. 

A better example of impressive ancient ruins from the Americas comes from the Mayan city of Chichen Itza. Located in the modern-day Yucatan Peninsula, these ruins are some of the best preserved from the 9th-century classical period that we know about.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Daniel Schwen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0