Ancient Ruins Hidden Away from the Crowds

Being in ruins is like being in a spell. These are places where the world used to be full of life and then fell silent. People visit to Colosseum or Machu Picchu for their beauty and mystery. There are many stories that are hidden in the corners of the world that have been forgotten in the world.

Many visitors visit these old places, which have different stories to tell, and which have been fading away from the world. These stories play the role of windows for humanity; these places have remained unchanged because of modern-day tourism.

Let us visit some of these places and try to get into the hearts of the ruins of civilization, roam around the places, and get to know about the places and the stories that are hidden there.

Ani, Turkey

The famous town known as Ani, which is located in eastern Turkey, very close to the Armenian border, this place is usually very busy. People called it “the city of 1,001 churches,” and it was a beautiful medieval capital.

Now, it stands alone in peace, with only the wind blowing through the crumbling arches of its cathedrals. The Church of St. Gregory still has some of its bright frescoes, and the Cathedral of Ani shines golden in the morning sun.

This place is surrounded by plains that seem endless, and the air is filled with the sound and music of prayers and laughter.

Tip for Travelers: Get there at dawn. The ruins are lit up, and you will feel like you are in the past.

Hampi, India—Where Rocks Tell Stories

Hampi’s landscape looks like something out of a dream. There are big rocks on rolling hills, old temples rising up between palm trees, and the soft sound of the Tungabhadra River.

Hampi was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and one of the richest cities in the world. The ruins are very quiet now. The Virupaksha Temple is still standing strong, and people still go there to pray and do other things, just like they have for hundreds of years. The stone chariot and musical pillars at the Vittala Temple, on the other hand, leave visitors speechless.

When the sun goes down, the granite hills turn gold, and Hampi becomes a work of art.

The best time to visit is between October and February, when the weather is cool and the sunsets are beautiful.

Tikal, Guatemala—Temples in the Fog

Tikal rises like a dream from the jungle floor, deep in the rainforest. The tops of the tall pyramids are often covered in fog.

You go up steep stone steps, and all of a sudden, you’re above the trees. You can hear monkeys calling in the distance and see toucans flying by below. It feels like time has stopped.

Tikal was once one of the Maya’s great cities, but now it’s a quiet place to escape the world’s problems. When you stand on top of Temple IV at dawn, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle, it is both humbling and otherworldly.

Don’t Miss: Go early in the morning to see the sun rise and hear the strange sounds of the forest waking up.

Dougga, Tunisia—Rome in the Olive Groves

Imagine a Roman city hidden among olive trees and getting sunlight from the Mediterranean. That’s Dougga, one of North Africa’s best-kept secrets.

There aren’t many people there, but the theatre, temples, and baths are in great shape. You can walk down cobbled streets that used to be full of merchants, stand inside the Capitol Temple, and look across a valley that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years.

It’s quiet, real, and raw—history without the long lines.

Why go? Some very beautiful ruins are located here, which are still a part of the world.

My Son, Vietnam

The attraction My Son is built by the Cham people, the attraction is actually a collection of red-brick temples, which are almost a thousand years ago. They are in the middle of Vietnam’s jungles. The air is thick with mystery, birdsong, and dampness.

The temples, which are dedicated to Hindu gods, have stood the test of time and war. Now, moss and vines are growing up their walls, softening the edges of their once-grand shapes.

My Son is still a calm, spiritual place, unlike Angkor Wat. Take your time walking. Listen to the silence. The past is still here.

The best time to visit this place is in the morning when the jungle is filled with mist. Coming to this place feels as if it is holding its breath.

Mesa Verde, USA—Houses in the Cliffs

The high canyons of Colorado are where Mesa Verde is. The Puebloans of long ago built their homes right into the cliffs. The Cliff Palace has a lot of windows and rooms, so when you stand in front of it, you can almost see families cooking, kids laughing, and fires glowing against the sandstone walls.

These homes, which were carved out of the rock more than 800 years ago, show how people can change.

It’s a nice place to think; it’s not about being big, but about lasting.

When to Go: The weather is nice and there aren’t as many people in the spring and fall.

Palenque, Mexico: The City of the Rain God

Palenque is a mysterious place in Mexico’s beautiful Chiapas jungle where Mayan art and mystery come together. The rain has made the stones of these old temples wet, and they rise up out of a sea of green leaves.

The Temple of the Inscriptions is where archaeologists found King Pakal’s tomb. The cravings of this place tell a story in itself. The jungle sings a soft hum all around the corner. The humming sound will always remain with you, and you will feel as if you never left that place.

Fatehpur Sikri, India: The City of the Emperor’s Dreams

Not far from Agra is Fatehpur Sikri, a red sandstone masterpiece built by Emperor Akbar. It was supposed to last forever, but it was left behind only a few decades after it was built.

The memory of a once-great empire still lingers in its courtyards. The Buland Darwaza, which means “Gate of Magnificence,” looks like a huge guardian of history.

There is a lot of silence right now, but that silence tells its own story about ambition, faith, and how weak power can be.

Fun Fact: The city was empty because there wasn’t enough water, which left an empire’s dream unfulfilled.

The Lost City Trek in Colombia’s Ciudad Perdida

The Tairona civilization built Ciudad Perdida, a mountain city that is hidden in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada, long before the Spanish came.

You have to walk for days through misty rivers, jungles, and mountains to get there. But when you finally get to the top of the last stone steps and see the old terraces spread out in front of you, it’s like magic.

There are no people here, just silence, wind, and the sense that you’ve found something sacred.

Trek Tip: Hire a local guide and be respectful of the Kogi communities that still see this land as holy.

Sun in Baalbek, Lebanon

The temples located here are so big and huge that it seems like they should have been placed somewhere else. The people visiting the columns look so small here because the columns are huge.

It’s not as busy as most Roman sites, but it’s just as big as the biggest ones in Europe. The historians are very much interested in the stones, and the people who used to move them, even some of the stones that are very huge stones were also moved.

Why go: Because those huge pillars make you realize how small and strong people can be at the same time.

These old ruins offer something different from the postcards that most tourists want: peace.

The next time you visit any adventurous place then try to stay away from the places that are too busy. Instead, go to a place where the past is still alive and gently waiting for you to hear it.

Sometimes, the best trips aren’t about seeing new things; they’re about feeling new things.