7 Caves, Temples and Cities Carved in Mountains

These ancient sites were once carved into the surrounding landscape and continue to stand today.

Created at a time when construction vehicles and advanced building tools did not exist, these caves, temples and cities demonstrate the craftsmanship of their ancient peoples all over the world.  

1. Petra 

Petra, Jordan

Petra, which is also known as “Rose city” for its pink-hued rock carvings, is located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea in Jordan. The archaeological site is home to several rock-cut temples and tombs, including Al Khazneh, Al-Deir, the Palace Tomb and Urn Tomb. Today this carved site is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

2. Longmen Grottoes 

Luoyang, China 

Longmen Grottoes. Dericafox. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Considered one of the best examples of Chinese Buddhist art, the Longmen Grottoes date back to the 5th century. The site contains more than 2,000 artificial caves and over 100,000 Buddhas carved into the limestone cliffs of the Xiangshan and Longmenshan mountains. The Longmen Grottoes cover an area of 30,000 square meters and the statues range in size (0.7 in- 53 ft). The site became a UNESCO site in 2000. 

3. Ellora Caves 

Maharashtra,India

Ellora Caves: Kailasanatha Temple. DdasedEn. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Stretching more than a mile long in distance, the Ellora cave temples date back to the 5th century. Located in Maharashtra, India the 34 caves are dedicated to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the Ellora Caves were hand carved into hillside rock.   

4. Mesa Verde National Park 

Montezuma, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park. Usareisetipps. CC BY-SA 2.0

Within Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park you’ll find the largest archeological preserve in the US. Located in Montezuma County and occupying 81 square miles, the more than 4,000 Pueblo Indian sites date back to the 6th century. As well as 600 cliff carved dwellings including the famous Cliff Palace and Long House. It is frequently visited by mountain lions, elk and bears as well as lizards and snakes which roam the National Park. 

5. Goreme National Park 

Nevşehir, Turkey

Sculpted by erosion, the Göreme National Park is in Cappadocia, Turkey and contains rock-hewn sanctuaries, houses, monasteries, churches and underground cities. These were inhabited and built in the 4th century, Neolithic pottery and tools found in Cappadocia attest to an early human presence in the region. Clay tablets recovered from the remains of an Assyrian merchant colony at Kanesh are among the oldest written documents discovered in Turkey. 

6. Abu Simbel 

Aswan, Egypt

An ancient temple complex, Abu Simbel was built by Egyptian King Ramses II to intimidate his enemies and seat himself amongst the gods. The 66-foot seated figures of Ramses are set against the recessed face of the cliff, two on either side of the entrance to the main temple. Carved around their feet are small figures representing Ramses’ children, his queen, Nefertari, and his mother, Muttuy. The temples were unknown to the outside world until their rediscovery in 1813 by the Swiss researcher Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. 

7. Lycian Tombs 

Anatolia, Turkey

The 4th century Lycian tombs of Turkey contain carved tombs into the side of the region’s mountains, demonstrating a form of ancestral worship. More than a thousand tombs are there  today varying in many intricate styles. Some with Romanian columns and other decorative features. The Lycian people believed the dead were carried to the afterlife by winged creatures, hence helping the process by laying them to rest in high cliffside tombs. 

Jennifer Sung

Jennifer is a Communications Studies graduate based in Los Angeles. She grew up traveling with her dad and that is where her love for travel stems from. You can find her serving the community at her church, Fearless LA or planning her next trip overseas. She hopes to be involved in international humanitarian work one day.

The Best Places to Rock Climb Around the World 

Rock climbing has been growing in popularity over recent years. These 5 spots are just a few of the world’s most impressive outdoor rock climbing sites. 

Rock climbing is a popular form of exercise; recently, indoor climbing gyms have become more and more common, and sport climbing was added to the Olympics for the Tokyo 2020 games. There are several types of climbing to explore around the world, with varying levels of difficulty and types of gear necessary for each. These five outdoor climbing sites—some of the most famous or unique climbing experiences across the globe—are just a small sampling of the numerous places for climbers of every level to explore. 

North America

El Capitan, California

Located in the Western part of Yosemite National Park’s Yosemite Valley, the granite walls of El Capitan reach more than 3,000 feet in the air. The rock face was formed millions of years ago after the collision of North America with another tectonic plate, forming magma which eventually crystallized into granite. El Capitan is one of several impressive granite rock faces in Yosemite Valley which allow for big wall climbing—a climb up a vertical expanse of rock that often takes multiple days. El Capitan is probably one of the most well-known rock formations among climbers, and it has become famous enough that even those who’ve never climbed may recognize the name. El Capitan has been the subject of a few films, including the Oscar-winning Free Solo, which follows Alex Honnold’s successful summit of the formation without any ropes or safety gear. El Capitan offers dozens of climbing routes for experienced climbers, such as The Nose and Muir Wall. Yosemite also has numerous routes for inexperienced climbers, and guides to help climbers learn the ropes. 

Other places to climb in North America are Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, Mount Asgard on Baffin Island in Canada and Acadia National Park in Maine.  

Europe

Kalymnos, Greece

One of Greece’s Dodecanese Islands near the coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, Kalymnos is lauded as one of the greatest sport climbing destinations in the world. Sport climbing is a form of high-intensity climbing on routes that are often relatively short. This type of climbing is distinguished by the fact that it relies on preplaced bolts and anchors drilled into the rock. Kalymnos is rather barren, dotted with low shrubs and very few trees; the terrain is mostly mountainous, consisting of major rock formations all along the west coast. In the past, Kalymnos’ barrenness meant that the local population had to turn to the sea to make a living, and the island became a hub for sponge-divers. Beginning in the late 1990s, the island’s rocky terrain began to serve a new purpose, as Italian climber Andrea di Bari and a group of other climbers created sport climbing routes on the cliffs. Today, there are over 3,000 routes on Kalymnos for climbers of varying levels, and the island hosts an annual climbing festival where climbers from around the world travel to compete and set up new routes. 

Europe is considered the birthplace of climbing, and there are a variety of other incredible climbing spots across the continent, including the Dolomites in Italy, Frankenjura in Germany, Fontainebleau in France and Lofoten in Norway. 

South America

La Esfinge, Peru 

Like California’s El Capitan, La Esfinge is an impressive site for big wall climbing. La Esfinge (The Sphinx) is in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca mountain range, which is located in the northern part of the country. Cordillera Blanca is home to abundant native plants and animals, as well as ruins from Inca civilization and pre-Inca cultures. La Esfinge is the most popular rock climbing site in the Cordillera Blanca and is regarded as South America’s premier big wall, a towering granite monolith standing at over 2,000 feet tall. There are many routes up La Esfinge, but the one most traversed by climbers is known as The Original Route, or the 1985 Route, because it is the route that climbers first took to summit in 1985. The 1985 route goes straight up the Eastern face of La Esfinge and is technically the easiest route on the wall, yet it is still a tremendous climb. 

Other prominent climbing destinations in South America include Mount Fitz Roy in Argentina, Cajon del Maipo in Chile, El Gunko in Panama and El Potrero Chico in Mexico. 

Africa

Todra Gorge, Morocco

In Southern Morocco, about six hours east of Marrakesh, lies the Todra Gorge, one of the world’s most beautiful canyons and a stunning climbing spot for climbers of all levels. Made by the River Todra carving its way through the limestone for thousands of years, the Todra Gorge is a canyon with cliffs rising over 400 meters high on either side. Todra Gorge boasts more than four hundred climbing routes, ranging from beginner to advanced. The first climbing routes in Todra Gorge were set by Spanish and French climbers in the 1970s, and new routes are constantly being developed by climbers who visit the gorge. One of the things which draws climbers to Todra Gorge is that it can be climbed year-round, as the weather and location ensures that there will always be a cliff in the sun during the winter or the shade during the summer. 

Other challenging climbs in Africa are the Milner Amphitheater and Table Mountain in South Africa, and Mount Kenya in Kenya. 

Asia

Railay Beach, Thailand 

Located in the Krabi Province of southern Thailand, Railay is a picturesque peninsula that juts off from the mainland. Although Railay is connected to the rest of Thailand, a series of steep cliffs separates the area from the rest of Thailand, meaning that no roads are able to come through to the peninsula and it is only accessible by boat. Railay has three beaches, all of which are lined by imposing limestone cliffs which make the area popular for rock climbing. Railay offers both sport climbing and bouldering, a form of free climbing. The most popular beach for climbing is Railay West, on the western side of the peninsula, but there are numerous routes on the other Railay beaches as well. Railay Beach boasts routes for climbers of varying levels, as well as some incredible views of the Gulf of Thailand. Two of the most-climbed areas of Railay Beach are the 123 wall and the Thaiwand Wall. Because of its location on the water, the beach provides another unique climbing experience: deep-water soloing. Deep-water soloing combines the free solo climbing style (no ropes or equipment) with water; without equipment, climbers make their way up craggy cliffs over deep bodies of water so if they fall, they land safely in the water. 

There are numerous other rock climbing destinations in Asia, including Long Dong in Taiwan, Cat Ba Island in Vietnam, Yangshuo in China and Mount Katsu in Japan. 

Rachel Lynch

Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.

South Korea Loves Its Mountains

Climbing the country’s many mountains is a national pastime. South Korea’s tranquil scenery allows hikers of all skill levels to escape the worries of the modern world.

Two hikers at Seoraksan. Tasmanian.Kris. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

If you go to South Korea, bring hiking gear. Lots of it. More so than in the United States, hiking is a communal exercise and a great to-do. A pair of sneakers and a water bottle won’t cut it when trekking up Seoraksan, a mountain located three hours from Seoul. Hikers, whether amateur or professional, purchase a catalog’s worth of clothing for even a short afternoon hike. In addition to the equipment, bring an appetite. Food, along with a little rice wine, will be served once—at the very least.

Hiking is less of a hobby and more of a national pastime for South Korea. Two-thirds of South Koreans climb a mountain at least once a year, and almost a third go once a month. Companies that make hiking equipment find a lucrative market in the country, since retailers have estimated that the average hiker wears $1,000 worth of gear for each trek. South Korea’s 22 national parks see roughly 45 million visitors a year.

There are many reasons why climbing mountains is such a widely enjoyed pastime. For one, they’re everywhere. Most people live within an hour or two of a hiking trail. Subways and buses provide easy transport, not to mention that multiple hiking groups offer group expeditions. Beginning in 1967, South Korea began setting aside its many mountains as national parks. By the end of the 1980s, over 2,000 square miles had been designated as national parks. This amounts to 6% of South Korea’s landmass. 

The sun shines on Dobongsan. Giuseppe Milo. CC BY 2.0. 

Mountains figure prominently in national myths as well. Dangun, the mythical founder of Korea, is said to have been born on Mount Paektu, along the border between China and North Korea. The mountain is mentioned in the national anthems of both North and South Korea. Additionally, South Korean culture values “pungsu,” a practice similar to feng shui, that emphasizes harmony with nature. With mountains located so close to big cities like Seoul, they provide a picturesque respite for hard workers. 

South Korea’s fall foliage. Brandon HM Oh. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

However, only recently did the mountains attract as many mountaineers as they do now. Park Chung-hee, president in the 1960s and ‘70s, encouraged businesses to lead employees on group hikes as a community-building tool. The residual effects of this policy are still widely felt. A long lunch break often provides enough time for a quick trek. Many trails shoot straight to the peak before climbing down, allowing for brisk and efficient exercise. This may be annoying for  many enthusiasts who want to savor the panoramic views the mountains offer.

A hike through Bukhansan. golbenge. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Citizens have plenty of mountains to choose from, such as those in the Taebaek and Sobaek ranges. Seoraksan, South Korea’s third-tallest peak at 5,600 feet, takes only three hours to climb, and fiery fall foliage attracts many to this mountain in particular. However, its beauty is nearly matched by other peaks. For example, Bukhansan gives urbanites in Seoul a chance to unwind in the great outdoors. Located just outside the city, it is affectionately called the “lungs of Seoul.”

The Taebaek Mountains in winter. mariusz kluzniak. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

South Korea’s hiking culture is visible even among those who emigrate. In Southern California, South Korean immigrants often don the same gear for hiking Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles that they would for Seoraksan. Backpacks bulge with Tupperware stuffed with South Korean delicacies for a midday picnic. For these hikers, traveling the trails is more than a hobby. It’s a way of keeping a precious national tradition alive. 

Michael McCarthy

Michael is an undergraduate student at Haverford College, dodging the pandemic by taking a gap year. He writes in a variety of genres, and his time in high school debate renders political writing an inevitable fascination. Writing at Catalyst and the Bi-Co News, a student-run newspaper, provides an outlet for this passion. In the future, he intends to keep writing in mediums both informative and creative.

10 Isolated Travel Destinations in the US 

Thinking about your next trip once the pandemic eases? This year, try one of these remote spots where isolation will be the theme. From Maine to Montana, explore nature free from crowds.

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PERU: The Roof of America

There are two spectacular mountain ranges in Peru, the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash. The vast majority of people who travel to Peru, go to see Machu Picchu. Around 1% of travelers visit the Blanca and Huayhuash each year. These mountains have snow all year but the snow level is very high because the mountains are close to the equator. Most people who trek in these ranges will use guiding companies that provide donkeys and horses to carry the equipment and supplies. Even though one does not need to carry much, the trekking in these ranges at altitude is a lot of work.
 

The Huayhuash mountains are very steep and difficult to climb. Siula Grande, made famous by the book and film Touching the Void, is in this small but amazing range. Most who travel to Huayhuash do a long trek around the mountains. The trek is mostly above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) the entire time and climbs many high passes including a 5,000m (16,404 feet). pass or two. As I recall there was a pass or two every day of the trek. There are beautiful lakes on both sides of the mountains.
 

In the Cordillera Blanca there are many more mountains and there are many that are much more reasonable for climbing than in Huayhuash. The most famous mountain here is Alpamayo. There is also a long trek, the Cedros Alpamayo Trek, that roughly circles Alpamayo. It is a long trek although the altitude is not quite as high as the Huayhuash trek. There is also a shorter trek called Santa Cruz that offers an opportunity to see the base camp of Alpamayo.
 

These are truly spectacular, and serious mountains. You would need to head to the Himalaya or the Karakoram to see bigger mountains. I’m sure Alaska is amazing as well. These mountains in Peru, however, are fairly easy to reach compared to these other ranges once you are in the country. Another advantage is that these mountains are close to the Equator and are therefore usually not too cold, which makes climbing a much more pleasant experience.

Trekking and climbing in the high mountains of Northern Peru, a rarely visited region, the beauty and scale of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash ranges from the sublime to the overwhelming.
 

 

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAPTIA. 

 

ERIC HODGES

Eric Hodges is a photographer for Maptia. He is from Corte Madera, California.