swap_horiz Merv Alternatives

1

Mogao Caves (Dunhuang)

The Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, are a network of 492 Buddhist cave temples located near Dun...

China Painting Buddhist Silk Road

9.2 Excellent

2

Mogao Caves

The Mogao Caves represent a significant archaeological site in northwestern China. Constructed between the 4th and 14th...

China Buddhist Silk Road Cave Art

9.1 Excellent

3

Anyang (Yin Ruins)

The Yin Ruins at Anyang represent the remains of the last capital city of the Shang Dynasty, located in Henan Province,...

China Capital Bronze Age Shang

9.0 Excellent

4

Hattusa

Hattusa was the capital city of the Hittite Empire, situated in central Anatolia near modern-day Boğazköy, Turkey. The s...

Turkey Capital Bronze Age Hittite

8.8 Great

5

Tenochtitlan (Templo Mayor)

The Templo Mayor was the main ceremonial pyramid of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital founded around 1325 CE on an island...

Capital Mexico Temple 14TH Century

8.7 Great

6

Sanchi

Sanchi is a Buddhist religious complex located on a hilltop in Madhya Pradesh, India, best known for its Great Stupa. Co...

India Buddhist Stupa Ashoka

8.2 Great

7

Sukhothai

Sukhothai is an extensive archaeological site in north-central Thailand that served as the capital of the first Kingdom...

Capital Thailand Thai 13TH Century

8.0 Great

8

Yin Ruins (Anyang)

The Yin Ruins, located in Anyang in China's Henan Province, represent the archaeological remains of Yin, the final capit...

China Capital Bronze Age Shang Dynasty

8.0 Great

9

Gyeongju Historic Areas

The Gyeongju Historic Areas encompass the ruins and monuments of Gyeongju, which served as the capital of the ancient Si...

Medieval Capital South Korea Silla

8.0 Great

10

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is an ancient city in Sri Lanka that served as the island's first established capital from the 4th century...

Capital Sri Lanka Buddhist Stupa

8.0 Great

11

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is a major archaeological site in Sri Lanka that served as the island nation's second capital from the 11th...

Medieval Capital Sri Lanka Buddhist

8.0 Great

12

Samarkand (Afrasiab)

Afrasiab is an ancient archaeological site located in the northern part of modern Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It encompasses...

Medieval Crossroads Uzbekistan Silk Road

8.0 Great

13

Wari (Huari)

Wari (also known as Huari) is an archaeological site in the Ayacucho Region of Peru that served as the capital of the Wa...

Andean Capital Peru 7TH Century

7.9 Good

14

Amarna

Amarna in Middle Egypt was the short-lived capital city founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten around 1346 BCE to promote the mono...

Capital Egyptian New Kingdom Akhenaten

7.8 Good

15

Nineveh

Nineveh, near modern Mosul in Iraq, was the largest city in the world at its height and served as the capital of the Neo...

Mesopotamia Capital Iraq Iron Age

7.8 Good

16

Nimrud

Nimrud is an ancient Assyrian archaeological site in northern Iraq, originally established as the capital city of Kalhu...

Capital Iraq Assyrian 9TH Century Bce

7.8 Good

17

Assur

Assur, located on the western bank of the Tigris River in northern Iraq, served as the original capital of the Assyrian...

Mesopotamia Capital Iraq Assyrian

7.5 Good

18

Musawwarat es-Sufra

Musawwarat es-Sufra is a large ancient religious and ceremonial complex in present-day Sudan, built during the Meroitic...

Temple Nubian Sudan Kushite

6.8 Fair

19

Nisa

Nisa is an archaeological site in southern Turkmenistan associated with the early Arsacid, or Parthian, state. The site...

Capital Palace Turkmenistan 3RD Century Bce

6.1 Fair

20

Gonur Depe

Gonur Depe is a Bronze Age archaeological site in the Karakum Desert of present-day Turkmenistan. It was a major settlem...

Oasis Bronze Age Turkmenistan Bactria Margiana

6.0 Fair