Ancient Ruins Most People Have Never Heard Of

Batu Caves, Selangor, Malasia.
Batu Caves, Selangor, Malasia. Photo by Anelale Nájera on Unsplash

Some of the most-visited travel destinations around the world are ancient ruins: Chichen Itza (Mexico), Pompeii, and the Roman Forum (Italy) being just a few examples. After all, their intrigue and interest are unmatched. But did you know there are actually so many other ancient ruins around the world worth visiting that you probably have never heard of before? Here are three of them.

Chand Baori Stepwell, India

One of India’s most famous stepwells, Chand Baori is 13 stories tall with 3,500 steps from the bottom to the top, where you can see stunning, bright green water inside. It’s one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India, of the 2,000 that survive throughout the country.

Pyramids of Meroë, Sudan

While they may not be nearly as famous as those in Egypt, the Sudanese desert actually has many more pyramids. The pyramids of Meroe were built between 2,300 and 2,700 years ago and have stunning decorative elements from Pharaonic Egypt, Greek, and Roman culture.

The Batu Caves, Malaysia

The Batu Caves, located just outside Kuala Lumpur, are an important religious site for the Hindus. To get there, you’ll climb up 272 colorful steps and arrive at Hindu shrines with lots of hungry monkeys and pigeons around begging for food. Go ahead and feed them; it’s thought to be good luck.