Seven Wonders Of The World

The New7Wonders Foundation announced the list of the modern seven wonders of the world on July 7, 2007, in Lisbon. The results were based on a worldwide poll in which about a 100 million people cast their votes. Of the ancient wonders of the world only the Pyramids of Egypt survive and have been named as an Honorary Candidate. These are must-see holiday travel destinations for anyone.

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá, Mexico

The El Castillo Pyramid is an ancient Mayan temple built using precise astronomical calculations. It is a step pyramid of four sides, measuring 60 meters on each side and rising to a height of 24 meters. On each side there are 91 stairs leading up to a temple platform. The total number of steps is 365 steps – one for each day of the year.
On the Spring and Autumn Equinox, a magical play of light and shade takes place. The edges of the terraces cast a single shadow on the north staircase, creating the illusion of the feathered serpent Kukulcan or Quetzalcoatl descending from the temple to the serpent’s head at the base of the pyramid. This phenomenon occurs at the rising and setting of the Sun on Equinox.
Best time to visit: December, January, February

Christ The Redeemer, Brazil

The statue is located on top of the 700-meter high Corcovado mountain and overlooks the magnificent vista of Rio de Janeiro. White sandy beaches, bays with bobbing yachts, towering skyscrapers, Sugar Loaf mountain and also hills and forests create a fabulous view from the top. With hands outstretched, the statue seems to embrace its surroundings. About 39 meters tall and 30 meters wide, the statue was inaugurated in 1931 and remains a powerful symbol of Brazil’s Christianity.
Best time to visit: September, October

The Roman Colosseum, Italy

It is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of Rome. Completed in 80 AD, the Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman empire and the grand stage for gladiatorial contests and animal hunts. Some of the contests involved the use of elaborate sets and were immensely popular with the local population. With a seating capacity of 50,000, the Colosseum runs 189 meters long and 156 meters wide and covers an area of 6 acres. A total of 80 entrances ensured that crowds could enter and exit with incredible ease.
Today the Colosseum remains an icon of Roman engineering and architecture.
Best time to visit: April, May, September, October

The Taj Mahal, India

Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth. It took 20,000 workers 22 years to build the mausoleum on the banks of the river Yamuna in Agra. The Taj houses Mumtaz Mahal’s grave, and Shah Jahan was later laid to rest beside her after his own death. The style of architecture is Mughal and reflects Persian as well as Hindu influences. Built entirely in translucent white marble, it is decorated with delicate motifs and with inlaid with precious stones. The beauty of this monument is unparalleled.
Best time to visit: October to March

The Great Wall of China

The Wall is not a single continuous wall but rather a series of separate walls measuring a length of about 8,500 kms. Construction of the wall began in the Qing dynasty in 221 BC. Fortification and extensions continued in the next millennia but it wasn’t until 1368 AD during the Ming dynasty that major extension recommenced. The older wall is made of rammed earth while the modern wall was built using stones and bricks and is as a result much stronger.
The Wall was built to protect the Chinese Empire from the Mongolians and other invaders. After Mongolia was annexed during the Ming dynasty, the construction of the wall ceased. Best time to visit: May, September, October

Petra, Jordan

The ancient Nabatean kingdom had Petra as its capital. Hidden by massive sandstone mountains, Petra served as the centre of caravan trade routes and hence flourished through trade. Approaching Petra from the east, make your way through the Siq, a one-kilometer long narrow, dark gorge formed by a split in the sandstone rock. At the end of the Siq, you will get the first dramatic glimpse of the Treasury through a narrow opening.
The façade of the Treasury, or Al Khazneh, is carved out of the rose-coloured sandstone mountain cliff. Rising to a height of 40 meters, the Treasury is remarkably well preserved because it is protected from the elements by the rock cliffs. Further ahead are an amphitheatre, various tombs and the Monastery.
Best time to visit: January to May

Machu Picchu, Peru

Located at a height of 2,450 meters in the Andes mountains, Machu Picchu is spectacularly located between two mountains. Built between 1460 and1470 AD, it was inhabited for about a century before being abandoned. Although known to the locals, it was never discovered by the Spanish Conquistadors and came to light in 1911 thanks to Hiram Bingham of Yale University.
Around 1,200 people, mostly priests, women and children, lived in Machu Picchu. There are about 140 structures surrounded by terraces used for growing crops. The main structures are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. The architecture is classic Inca involving stones cut into blocks and placed together without mortar. The stones are so tightly placed that not even a blade of grass can pass through.
Best time to visit: April and May