Throughout history, people have found different ways to build shelters. We have used trees, forests, wood, and stone to not be out in the open. Today, we will look at one interesting way to build- mountain carving. When you look at structures like the ancient city of Petra in Jordan or the more recent Tunisian Hotel “Marhala”, you will see some interesting architecture.
Petra, Jordan
Petra, an ancient city in southern Jordan, is well-known for its structures cut directly into a cliffside. The first records of the city date back to roughly 312 BC, while human habitation of the region goes back as far as 9,000 BC.
There, you will find tombs, temples, a treasury, and an amphitheatre, making the city even more exciting for visitors.
Since 1985 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Predjama Castle, Slovenia
Predjama Castle is a massive castle with a rich history that sits at the cave entrance. It was constructed in the 1300s and occupied the 14-kilometer-long (8.7-mile-long) Predjama cave network. According to legend, a humiliated knight named Erazem Lueger sought sanctuary in the castle in the 15th century. Legend has it that Erazem used a secret entrance/exit deep inside the castle’s foundations. Today, visitors may explore the cave system by climbing this passageway on their own.
Mount Olympus, Greece
Mount Olympus is Greece’s tallest mountain. It is situated between Thessaly and Macedonia and is part of the Olympus massif. Each year, tens of thousands of tourists appreciate its wildlife and flora, travel its slopes, and scale its summits.
Mount Olympus was considered the home of the gods and the location of Zeus’ throne in Greek mythology. They were located beside the mountain and guarded by the mythical golden Gates of Olympus. These legends inspired many forms of media and games, including the slot machine Gates of Olympus which features some of the most famous Olympian gods.
Ellora, India
The Ellora Caves are a large complex of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain temples and monuments constructed out of the basalt cliffs of the Charanandri Hills. The buildings were erected about the years 600 and 1000 C.E… All temples were likely constructed at the same time, attesting to ancient India’s peaceful and tolerant social norms.
You should visit the site of this structure because of its beauty and sheer size, having 100 caves carved into the stone.
In 1983 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Longmen Caves, China
The Henan region of China is home to 2,345 caverns that contain up to 100,000 stone sculptures. The Longmen Caves, also known as the Longmen Grottoes, were carved between the 5th and 8th centuries A.D.
If you visit the structure, you will find caves, an example of Chinese art and sculpture, especially of the Tang dynasty. They were all carved by hand into the mountains for centuries.
Conclusion
In no particular order, these are just a few of the world’s most impressive examples of mountain-carved constructions. All of the highlighted locations are fantastic for their cave systems, artwork, and scenic beauty. Any of these buildings might be worth seeing if you happen to be in the area.