Seven Wonders of the World

1. The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India
This was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mugal emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. It was built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens. Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India.


2. Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan
Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.) situated on the edge of the Arabian Desert. Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

3. Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru
In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacutec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu "Old Mountain". This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River.

4. Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. It was designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski. It is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.

5. The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China
The Great Wall of China is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. It was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.

6. The Pyramid at Chichen Itza (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Chichen Itza, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

7. The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy
This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.