Friday, April 16, 2010

The new7 wonders of the World.

The world is a wonderful place, full of great monuments that stand testimony to Human imagination and resilience. Only a few of these monuments make it to the coveted list of Wonders of the World.

What are these wonders? What qualifies them to be put in the elite list of seven?


The number 7 was chosen, because ancient Greeks believe number 7 to be a symbol of perfection. And these lists are a record of near perfect monuments that stand testimony to Human imagination, artistry and grit.

The new7 wonders of the world were chosen from a worldwide poll. The Pyramids of Giza, which is the only surviving true member of the ancient list too, finds an honourable mention along with these 7. These wonders are:


1. The Great Wall of China, China. The Great Wall of China, at 6400 kms is the longest man made structure in the world. It’s said that it is the only man made thing visible from the space. The great wall of China was built , rebuilt and maintained to protect the people of central China from the attacks of Huns and the nomad tribes. Millions of soldiers guarded the Wall from checkposts, and a lot many died in the centuries long construction of this mega wall.
2. Petra, Jordan. The hidden city of Petra in Jordan was built by the Nabateans, an Arab Tribe. It has buildings carved in the sandstone mountain cliffs. Petra was visited by a perennial stream of water, and flash floods. Nabateans built dams, cisterns and other innovations to store this water for long periods of time, thus creating an artificial oasis. Petra also had excellent natural defences, surrounded by tall mountain cliff, with narrow entrance (Siq) to the city.
3. Machu Pichu, Peru. Machu Pichu is a remarkably preserved archaeological site of the Inca empire. It was built by the Incas at a secluded mountain ridge atop Urubamba valley, completely invisible from below, and defended by a very difficult approach. The city of Machu Pichu, therefore, remained hidden from subsequent Spanish conquerors, who destroyed all other Inca sites. It was primarily forgotten, and shrouded by thick jungle growth until rediscovered by Hiram Birgham, an American historian in 1911. Machu Pichu boasts of the traditional dry-stone architecture of the Incas, where walls are constructed just by putting snug fitting stones on top of each other, without using mortar. These stones, some as heavy as 50 tons, fit so well that even a knife blade can’t be inserted between them. Machu Pichu was watered by perennial streams and had enough agricultural space to feed 4 times its population.
4. Chichen Itza, Mexico. Chichen Itza, the famous temple city was the political and economic centre of the Mayan Civilization. The Maya civilization was an advanced society with a fully written language. The stepped, stone pyramid of Chichen Itza, also called the Pyramid of Kukulcan, is the last and the greatest of Mayan Temples. A shadow of the serpent God, Kukulcan forms on the steps of the Pyramid on every equinox.
5. The TajMahal, India. TajMahal, the tomb of Emperor ShahJahan and his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal is a crowning jewel in Muslim Art. ShahJahan was the 5th Mughal emperor of India. On the banks of river Yamuna, completely made of marble, and boasting of intricate and ornate gemstone work, Taj is regarded as a monument of love. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is often credited as the chief Architect of The TajMahal.
6. Roman Colosseum, Italy. Built bang in the middle of Rome, the Colosseum was the classic amphitheatre. Almost all sports stadium till date copy the original design of the Colosseum. It was made to hold Gladiatorial contests, mock sea battles, executions, etc. It can hold upto 80,000 people. Though partially destroyed by earthquakes and stone robbers, it is still a classic symbol of the Roman Empire.
7. Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Brazil. The newest of all wonders, this statue is located atop a hill in Rio de Janeiro. Made in 1931 of reinforced concrete and soapstone, it is tallest of its kind in the world. The statue of Jesus Christ, with welcoming open arms, has become a symbol of Christianity.

*. The Pyramid of Khufu, Egypt. Built as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu, The largest of all pyramids stands 4500 years old. It was the tallest man made building till 19th century until Eiffel Tower broke the record. The Pyramid of Khufu points almost exactly to the north, and has remarkably accurate measurements for its age. The complex has 3 pyramids : Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre, and Pyramid of Menkaure, and a statue of human headed Lion, called the Sphinx.

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