From Cloudbursts to Earthquakes: Indian and International Destinations Destroyed By Natural Disasters

Recently, we saw a devastating cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Dharali village which was swept away in a flash flood. A number of people went missing while several reported dead. A number of hotels and houses were completely destroyed.

These are the results of natural calamities which can’t be predicted. It’s hard to tell when nature changes its course and shows its power in the form of tsunami, volcanic eruptions, earthquake, floods, cloudburst and more.

Over the centuries, natural calamities have shaped human life. Some of these have also claimed world’s most iconic landmarks and attractions in minutes that took years to build! Some of history’s most favourite and notable tourist attractions have disappeared from the world map leaving only memories and ruins.

On this note, let’s revisit these lost wonders of the world destroyed by nature.

Pompeii remains a stark reminder of the power of Mother Nature. What happened here is an iconic disaster in human history! The entire city got buried under volcanic ash and pumice when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. More than 2,000 people lost their lives. Today, Pompeii is a famous archaeological site in Italy.

The very beautiful Lake Rotomahana’s the Pink and White Terraces which were once celebrated as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” were destroyed during a volcanic eruption in 1886. Mount Tarawera’s eruption was violent and buried them under ash and mud. The terraces as a unified natural attraction today are no more.

Earthquake and Tsunami claimed the incredibly beautiful and famous Port Royal in Jamaica. The place is noted as the wickedest city in the world. But it got submerged in the Caribbean Sea after being hit by a massive earthquake in 1692. The quake and tsunami gulped a major portion of the once thriving town. Thousands of people were killed and today only underwater ruins remain. It’s a fav spot for divers.

Darwin’s Arch was another popular natural rock arch attraction in the Galapagos Islands. The arch was destroyed in  2021 because of years of erosion and seismic stress. Today travellers can only spot two pillars.

Azure Window was a unique-shaped limestone arch with a beautiful coastal phenomenon. It was a major tourist draw in Malta. However, it collapsed and fell into the sea in 2017 when the shore got hit by a powerful storm. It just disappeared overnight, leaving only underwater rubble.

Dharahara Tower was one of the most iconic Bhimsen Tower in Kathmandu. It was built in the early 19th century and was a national symbol in Kathmandu. But the infamous April 2015 earthquake claimed the upper structure in seconds. A number of people were killed. Though a replica tower was built later on stronger foundations.

Dhanushkodi in India’s Tamil Nadu used to be a beautiful coastal town known for its pilgrimage. The town was a thriving tourist and spiritual destination and was connected to mainland India by rail. It was the closest point to Sri Lanka but everything changed overnight. On December 22, 1964, the town was hit by a powerful cyclone which destroyed the Pamban-Dhanushkodi passenger train and killed more than 180 passengers along with hundreds of locals. Today, Dhanushkodi is noted as a ghost town.

Gaziantep Castle was destroyed during 2023’s devastating earthquake that claimed thousands of lives. Dating back over 2,000 years, Gaziantep Castle had seen Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras. In February 2023, the country was hit by a massive 7.8‑magnitude earthquake which caused a huge loss to heritage tourism in Gaziantep.