Istaravshan in northern Tajikistan is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, with a current population of around 275,000. But despite its ancient pedigree, you shouldn’t set your expectations
Exploring Khujand, a city of about 150,000 in northern Tajikistan, it can be easy to forget which century you’re in. The city’s history goes back thousands of years, and it’s known for being
With a history going back thousands of years, Hisor Fortress is often touted as one of the essential day trips from the Tajik capital of Dushanbe. And it is indeed both historically significant
A lot of visitors to Samarkand hop over the border for a brief trip to Haft Kul, one of Tajikistan’s most impressive natural attractions. But for history and archaeology lovers, the city of
Death was the theme of this long excursion from Khiva. The long journey took us to the mysterious Chilpik Kala, an ancient tower where the dead were laid – not for burial, but
If you’re looking for a break from the madrasas and minarets of central Khiva, the neighboring Kyzylkum Desert is home to ancient fortresses that have remained largely untouched for centuries. Over 50 fortresses, collectively referred
Located about 60 km southwest of Bukhara, Paykend is an overlooked archaeological site that few tourists venture to see. Admittedly, I hadn’t heard of it before arriving in Bukhara, but a photo in
Termez, a dusty border city at the southern end of Uzbekistan, feels a world away from the colorful domes of Samarkand and Bukhara. Yet this remote outpost along the Amu Darya River –
The term ‘crossroads of civilizations’ gets thrown around a lot. But Afghanistan has genuinely earned it, as the region was once home to thriving Zoroastrian, Greek, and Buddhist kingdoms. And ever since the
Takht-e-Rostam is one of the world’s most unusual Buddhist sites. Instead of being constructed, the massive stupa was carved entirely from the top down. Why? Nobody quite knows. But, together with the beautiful
Northern Afghanistan’s main hub, Mazar-i-Sharif, is home to the stunning Blue Mosque, one of the country’s most beautiful and spiritually significant landmarks. But for centuries, the main city here was Balkh. Once among Central
Afghanistan could be said to have two capitals: Kabul, the country’s largest city and where most administrative offices are located, and Kandahar, the spiritual heart of the country, where the Taliban’s supreme leader
Situated at the heart of a strategic crossroads, Ghazni was once the center of a mighty empire that stretched from Iran to India. But due to waves of invasions, little remains of its
Bamyan is one of Afghanistan’s most visually stunning and historically interesting provinces. From ancient Buddha niches carved into sandstone cliffs to ruined fortresses with mythical backstories, there’s no shortage of things to do
Today, the name Bamyan is most associated with the infamous destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyan at the hands of the Taliban in 2001. While we will be discussing that incident below, we
A lot of people are shocked to first learn that Kabul Province used to be a predominantly Buddhist region. And though much of that ancient heritage has largely been lost, visitors can still
Kabul is a bustling city of around 5 million people with millennia of history. Most people around the world, however, only associate the city’s name with war and terror. But, at the time
Located in western Pakistan – not far from the Afghan border – Takht Bhai is one of the most important Buddhist archaeological sites in the ancient Gandhara region. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Peshawar, the largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with a population of nearly 2 million, sits at the edge of the Khyber Pass – the historic mountainous route connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan. The
Northern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan territory is home to some of Asia’s most striking mountain scenery. And the Hunza Valley is one of the easiest places to experience its dramatic landscapes from up close. But
The Lahore Museum is Pakistan’s flagship museum. Founded in 1865 and housed in its present building since 1894, it features around 14,000 artifacts (out of roughly 60,000) on display which span millennia. While
The National Museum of India, also commonly known as the ‘National Museum, New Delhi’ is generally considered to be India’s flagship museum (though Mumbai’s CSMVS Museum is another top contender). It’s home to
A visit to Kumbalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Temple from Udaipur is one of Rajasthan’s most essential day trips. In a single day, you can enjoy one of India’s most impressive fortresses and one of
In a country of over 1,000 surviving ancient fortresses, Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh holds the distinction of being India’s largest. So large, in fact, that it remains home to thousands of inhabitants. And its landmarks
Having spent a cumulative 1.5 years of my life in India, I’d have to say that Mandu is my favorite Indian town. That honor previously belonged to Jaisalmer, a place which has since
There’s nowhere else in India quite like Mandu. Having been to over a dozen Indian states, I can safely say that Mandu is my favorite town in the country. Largely developed from the
If there were any single archaeological site synonymous with the mighty emperor Ashoka, it would have to be Sanchi. The Great Sanchi Stupa was commissioned by the Maurya Emperor in the 3rd century
Located about 45 km southeast of Bhopal, the rock shelters of Bhimbetka are home to some of the world’s oldest rock art, with some dating as far back as 100,000 years! Rediscovered in
Mostly carved from the 2nd century BC to the 5th or 6th century AD, the Ajanta Caves are undoubtedly one of India’s most important Buddhist sites. While some caves are mainly known for
Carved between the 6th-12th centuries AD, Maharashtra’s Ellora Caves are hailed by many as an overlooked wonder of the world. The site is home to the spectacular Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), but over
Kailasa Temple is easily among the most stunning Hindu temples in India, and it arguably rivals Angkor Wat for the finest of them all. Like many temples, it features towers, multiple stories, and
Daulatabad Fort isn’t that well-known, and it hardly ever appears on lists of India’s top forts. But it’s arguably one of the country’s most enjoyable forts to visit. While it lacks the grandeur
Due to the abundance of volcanic rock in the region, the Indian state of Maharashtra is teeming with ancient manmade caves. The most impressive among them are the Ajanta and Ellora caves near
A trip from hectic Mumbai to the Elephanta Caves feels like entering a vastly different world. But the journey to see these enigmatic Shiva carvings, located on a small island to the east
Though privately run, Mumbai’s CSMVS Museum is arguably India’s flagship museum. Or, it’s at least on par with New Delhi’s National Museum. But what can one expect to see here, and what does
One of the most-visited museums in the country, Chicago’s Field Museum has a little something for everyone. It was originally created to house objects that had been accumulated for the Chicago World’s Fair
The site of Cahokia, located just outside of St. Louis, is home to the largest earthen pyramid in the United States. But amazingly, it had a sister city roughly 360 miles away, now
Northeast Iowa is home to one of the largest concentrations of ancient mounds in the US, many of which are now located in Effigy Mounds National Monument. Established as a protected area in 1949,
If you find yourself driving across the state of North Dakota – either to or from the underrated Theodore Roosevelt National Park – you may be wondering how to break up the journey.
The state of Illinois is home to one of the most significant and impressive archaeological sites in all of the United States: Cahokia, known for its large earthen pyramid. But like its neighboring
The stunning ruins of Copán in western Honduras attract visitors from around the world. Yet out of all the top tier Mayan sites, Copán is by far the most difficult to reach. That’s
The Mayan site of El Puente is just one of three or four archaeological sites in Honduras that’s accessible to the public. Yet it’s so obscure that even many locals have never heard
While the mighty city-state of Copán had elite residences situated right next to its royal precinct, many of its nobles lived further away in a district we now call Las Sepulturas. Incredibly, Las
Along with the likes of Chichén Itzá, Palenque and Tikal, the ruins of Copán in Honduras are among the most impressive ever left behind by the ancient Maya. Situated at the southeastern edge
Not only was Cihuatán the largest ancient city in what’s now El Salvador, but its history is both unique and mysterious. The city wasn’t founded until 900 AD, at a time when many other
Joya de Cerén may have never been the seat of a mighty king, nor did it contain a single pyramid. But today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is pivotal when it comes to
Scattered around the modern town of Chalchuapa, the Chalchuapa Archaeological Zone is home to no less than ten known ancient Mayan sites. But among them, only Tazumal and Casa Blanca are currently open to the
Before there was Guatemala City, there was Kaminaljuyu, one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the region – if not the Mayan world as a whole. Kaminaljuyu is quite old by
Zaculeu is one of Guatemala’s lesser-known Mayan sites, but also one of its most unique. The ruins are situated just outside the city of Huehuetenango, located between Xela and the Mexican border. That
By the time of the Spanish conquest, most of the great Mayan cities had already collapsed. But traditional Mayan culture was still alive and well in the 16th century, as evidenced by sites
Few scenes capture the imagination like Tikal’s towering pyramids looming over a vast and dense jungle. But Tikal’s pristine environment also means that it’s not the easiest place to reach. And with rather
The Mayan civilization was home to many mighty cities, but few were quite as influential as Tikal. Not only was Tikal a political and cultural powerhouse for centuries, but its iconic towering pyramids
Guatemala’s Petén region is home to several accessible archaeological sites. But aside from the world-famous Tikal, Yaxha is the only other site that can easily be reached by tour. And that’s probably because
Belize’s various Mayan sites aren’t always that easy or cheap to reach. One major exception, however, would be Cahal Pech – just about thirty minutes on foot from the tourism hub of San
Caracol in southern Belize was one of the Mayan world’s most dominant cities, and is accordingly the country’s largest Mayan archaeological site. But it’s also the most difficult to reach, so most visitors
Xunantunich is one of Belize’s best archaeological sites, and it’s also one of the easiest and cheapest to reach. Like many Mayan sites in Belize, the Xunantunich ruins are comprised of just a
Inhabited from around 200 BC to 900 AD, Altun Ha would reach its zenith in the 6th century. And though it was likely just a medium-sized city in its day, the Altun Ha ruins are now
Lamanai was one of the longest continually inhabited cities of the Mayan world. And its three grand pyramids reveal how important it must’ve been in its prime. Located in central Belize, most people
Located 25 km southeast of Mérida is a site that even many Mayan ruins enthusiasts have never heard of. The site of Acanceh was first established back in the Preclassic Period (700 BC–50 AD).
Situated between the modern city of Mérida and the Gulf Coast, Dzibilchaltún long played a pivotal role in the regional salt trade. While not the most elaborate Mayan ruins you’ll find in the region, the