It is a very shocking thing to imagine that a city can get lost. Yes, wherever you live on Earth, many cities have been lost in the past. There are many causes of a city disappearing. There may be causes such as war, natural calamities, or other reasons. Anyhow, we shall discuss the top 10 lost cities in the world that were lost in the past and discovered again a long time ago.
10: Pripyat, Ukraine – The Abandoned Ghost City
There is one of the ghost cities, “Pripyat,” located in the North near the Ukrainian border. It got its name from the name of a river. It was founded on 4 February 1970 as a nucleated city. As a result of the nuclear war, this city was abandoned by the people. After 20 years, this city is not fully vacant. Scientists, military, and police forces use it to clean from radiation. Electricity is still available in some parts of Pripyat. But humans are absent there; that’s why wildlife has increased.
9: Caral, Peru – An Ancient Lost City
Caral was a huge, ancient settlement in America and is marked as a lost city in the world. It was located in the Supe Valley of Barranca province. This city was established around 2600 BC. It had almost 3000 inhabitants. In 1948, Paul Kosok discovered this city, but it got little attention. In 1975, Carlos William again prepared a comprehensive record of its archaeological sites. Caral was a peaceful society and didn’t have any evidence of battlements, weapons, or mutilated bodies. Remarkably, it was the finest society that built upon music or trade.
8: Babylon, Iraq – A Legendary City of the Ancient World
Babylon is one of the 10 lost cities in the world. In Mesopotamia, it was the capital of the city of Babylonia. In the 18th century, King Amorite created a major city and proclaimed himself its king. Then, Babylon developed into the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This city collapsed around 1180 BC but again flourished in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, who took credit for building the legendary Hanging Gardens. But now it is just a mound of broken mud bricks and rubbish on the productive Mesopotamian plains.
Babylon’s rise and influence can also be understood through the history of the largest empires in history.
7: Machu Picchu, Peru – The Lost Inca City
Machu Picchu was on the list of the top 10 lost cities in the world. Strangely, it is difficult to accept that the most famous tourist point of South America, Machu Picchu, was strange for the world until 1911. During the period of Spanish conquest, it was unknown to the world and surrounded by thick woodland. Hiram Bingham brought it to the world. Now it is the biggest heritage spot.
6: Taxila, Pakistan – One of the Lost Cities in the World
Taxila is situated in the northwest of Punjab, Pakistan. It means “The city of cut stones”. The prehistoric city was expanded by Persian King Darius in 518 BC. Alexander the Great conquered this city. A series of conquerors ruled in Taxila. It became a center of Buddhism. In the 5th century, it was destroyed by the Huns. Alexander Cunningham worked under the supervision of John Marshall, who was the first director of the Archaeological Survey of India in the 19th century. He brought Taxila to the world.
5: Ani, Turkey – The Forgotten Medieval City
Ani is one of the most demolished and lost cities in the world and is currently situated in Turkey near the border of Armenia. It first rose in the 5th Century AD. In the 10th century, it became a flourishing town in Armenia. Ani had a population of almost 100,000 to 200,000. Until the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, it remained the capital city of Armenia. The destructive earthquake in 1319 shifted trade routes, leading to the permanent decline of this city. That’s why this city was neglected and forgotten for centuries.
4: Chan Chan, Peru – The Ancient Chimu Capital
Chan Chan was the biggest city of pre-Columbian times. It is listed in the top 10 lost cities in the world. Chan means “sun.” It earned this name because of the sunny climate. It was constructed around the 14th century by the Chimu, and it fell into decline in 850 AD. Francisco Pizarro established the city of Spain in 1535. He pushed Chan Chan into darkness. But it was still famous for its building materials. In the 19th century, Michael Moseley and Carol J. Mackey excavated it.
3: Angkor, Cambodia – The Lost City of the Khmer Empire
Angkor is an enormous city in Cambodia. It had a huge empire that prospered in the 9th -15th centuries. It had the popular Angkor Wat temple, the religious monument Bayon temple, etc. This city’s religion has been changed into Hinduism from Buddhism in various eras. In 1431, the Angkorian era came to an end because of looted by Ayutthaya invaders. Just Angkor Wat remains, which is a Buddhist Shrine and a famous tourist attraction. Angkor Empire’s ruin in the 15th century is still a mystery. However, investigators have revealed that it was because of prolonged monsoons that destroyed the city’s infrastructure.
2: Petra, Jordan – The Rose City
It is the oldest and most famous lost city in Jordan. This place is considered a historical site because of its beautiful architectural water management system. In 1985, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra was once called “Rose City” because of the colorful pebbles used in the buildings. Before the 18th century, Petra was not a significantly important location. Historians are attracted there because of its unique architectural work.
Ancient civilizations also left behind remarkable religious architecture, as seen in these beautiful ancient Egyptian temples.
1: Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan – The Ancient Indus Valley City
Mohenjo-Daro is one of the top 10 lost cities in the world. It means the “Mound of the Dead Men”. It was first rediscovered in 1922, one year after the discovery of the same city, Harappa. From the discovery of the city, the thing is revealed that the city had astonishing temples, monuments, and places. There was no evidence of royal rule in that society. But their drainage and road systems were excellent.
To understand the civilization behind Mohenjo-Daro in greater detail, explore these facts about the Indus Valley Civilization.
| Rank | Lost City | Country | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Pripyat | Ukraine | Abandoned after the Chernobyl disaster |
| 9 | Caral | Peru | One of the oldest urban centers in the Americas |
| 8 | Babylon | Iraq | Ancient Mesopotamian city and empire |
| 7 | Machu Picchu | Peru | Famous Inca archaeological site |
| 6 | Taxila | Pakistan | Ancient center of learning and Buddhism |
| 5 | Ani | Turkey | Historic medieval Armenian city |
| 4 | Chan Chan | Peru | Ancient capital of the Chimú civilization |
| 3 | Angkor | Cambodia | Historic center of the Khmer Empire |
| 2 | Petra | Jordan | Rock-cut Nabataean city |
| 1 | Mohenjo-Daro | Pakistan | Major city of the Indus Valley Civilization |
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