In photos: Seven wonders of the new world

Did you know who chose the new seven wonders of the world? Well, it’s people like you and I who vote for these wonderful destinations and that’s how it comes down to the seven best. There’s a Swiss company, the New 7 Wonders Foundation, that keeps a track of the poll. The latest poll took place in 2007 and given below are the results of it.

This monument was built from 220 B.C. to A.D. 1644 by not one but by several dynasties. Many sections of the wall overlap, but the combined length of the entire constructed wall is estimated around 21,196 km (13,171 miles).

Built between 1632 to 1648, the Taj Mahal is one of the most recognised landmarks in the world. Nearly 20,000 workers took 16 years to build this architectural marvel.

The Nabateans built the city of Petra in the 4th century B.C. to 2nd century A.D. The city was built along the silk and spice trade routes and thus saw a very prosperous period till it fell to the Romans in A.D. 106.

One of the world’s most popular monuments, the Colosseum was built in A.D. 72-82 in Rome. The Colosseum was used for gladiator matches, hunting shows, and very public executions!

This world famous statue was commissioned by the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro in 1926-31. Measuring a height of 125 feet and a weight of 1,145 tonne, the Christ the Redeemer statue is the largest art deco sculpture in the world.

If stories about ancient civilisations fascinate you, the city of Chichén Itzá of the Maya-Toltec civilization is perfect for you. The city was built in the 5th-13th century. It turns out, the Mayans were quite good at astronomy and science; one of the temples at the site, the Temple of Kukulkán, is a great example. The Mayans followed the Haab solar calendar where one solar year comprised 365 days. The Temple of Kukulkán has 365 steps, one for each day of the year.

Pride of the Andes, Machu Picchu was considered to be the royal retreat of the Incan emperor Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui. For unknown reasons, the site was completely abandoned towards the end of the 16th century. As of now, Machu Picchu is one of the most popular destinations in the world.