1. Taj Mahal (India)
- Location: Agra, India
- Built by: Emperor Shah Jahan
- Year: 1632-1653
- Fact: Built as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, it is a symbol of love and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Great Wall of China (China)
- Location: Northern China
- Built by: Multiple dynasties, notably the Qin and Ming Dynasties
- Length: ~13,170 miles (21,196 km)
- Fact: Built to protect against invasions from nomadic tribes like the Mongols. The current structure was primarily built during the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th centuries).
3. Eiffel Tower (France)
- Location: Paris, France
- Built by: Gustave Eiffel
- Year: 1887-1889
- Fact: Initially criticized, now a global cultural icon. At 324 meters, it was the tallest structure in the world until 1930.
4. Statue of Liberty (USA)
- Location: New York, USA
- Designed by: Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
- Year: 1886
- Fact: A gift from France to the USA commemorating liberty and democracy, inscribed with Emma Lazarus’s famous poem “The New Colossus.”
5. Colosseum (Italy)
- Location: Rome, Italy
- Built by: Emperor Vespasian and completed under Titus
- Year: 70-80 AD
- Fact: Known for gladiatorial battles, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built and a symbol of ancient Roman engineering.
6. Machu Picchu (Peru)
- Location: Andes Mountains, Peru
- Built by: Inca Empire
- Year: ~1450
- Fact: Discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, it’s considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
7. Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)
- Location: Giza, Egypt
- Built by: Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure
- Year: ~2580-2560 BC
- Fact: The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only remaining wonder of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
8. Christ the Redeemer (Brazil)
- Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Built by: Heitor da Silva Costa, with contributions from sculptor Paul Landowski
- Year: 1931
- Fact: At 98 feet tall, it is one of the most iconic statues in the world, symbolizing Christianity.
9. Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy)
- Location: Pisa, Italy
- Built by: Bonanno Pisano (initially)
- Year: 1173-1372
- Fact: The tower leans due to unstable foundation soil. Efforts have been made to stabilize the tilt since the late 20th century.
10. Acropolis of Athens (Greece)
- Location: Athens, Greece
- Built by: Pericles (Patron of construction)
- Year: ~5th century BC
- Fact: Home to the Parthenon, the Acropolis is a symbol of Ancient Greek culture and philosophy.
11. Mount Rushmore (USA)
- Location: South Dakota, USA
- Sculpted by: Gutzon Borglum
- Year: 1927-1941
- Fact: Depicts U.S. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, representing the nation’s birth, growth, development, and preservation.
12. Sydney Opera House (Australia)
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Designed by: Jørn Utzon
- Year: Completed in 1973
- Fact: Known for its sail-like design, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of modern architecture.
13. Petra (Jordan)
- Location: Ma’an Governorate, Jordan
- Built by: Nabataeans
- Year: ~312 BC
- Fact: Known for its rock-cut architecture, including the famous Treasury (Al-Khazneh), it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
14. Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
- Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Built by: King Suryavarman II
- Year: Early 12th century
- Fact: The largest religious monument in the world, originally Hindu and later converted to Buddhism.
15. Sagrada Familia (Spain)
- Location: Barcelona, Spain
- Designed by: Antoni Gaudí
- Year: Construction started in 1882 (ongoing)
- Fact: Known for its elaborate, symbolic architecture, Sagrada Familia is still under construction, with a projected completion date in the mid-21st century.
16. Kremlin and Red Square (Russia)
- Location: Moscow, Russia
- Built by: Multiple architects (notably under Ivan III in the late 15th century)
- Fact: The Kremlin is the seat of Russian political power, and Red Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
17. Alhambra (Spain)
- Location: Granada, Spain
- Built by: Nasrid Dynasty
- Year: Completed in the 14th century
- Fact: A stunning example of Moorish architecture, it reflects the Islamic influence in medieval Spain.
18. The Great Sphinx of Giza (Egypt)
- Location: Giza, Egypt
- Built by: Likely during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre (~2500 BC)
- Fact: The Sphinx, with a lion’s body and a human head, is a symbol of ancient Egyptian power and wisdom.
19. Stonehenge (UK)
- Location: Wiltshire, England
- Built by: Neolithic people
- Year: ~3000 BC – 2000 BC
- Fact: Its exact purpose remains a mystery, though it is believed to have astronomical and ceremonial significance.
20. Brandenburg Gate (Germany)
- Location: Berlin, Germany
- Built by: Carl Gotthard Langhans
- Year: Completed in 1791
- Fact: A symbol of Germany’s reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
21. Hagia Sophia (Turkey)
- Location: Istanbul, Turkey
- Built by: Emperor Justinian I
- Year: 537 AD
- Fact: Initially a church, later a mosque, and now a museum. It is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture.
22. Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany)
- Location: Bavaria, Germany
- Built by: King Ludwig II of Bavaria
- Year: 1869-1886
- Fact: Often referred to as the “fairy-tale” castle, it inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
23. Moai Statues (Easter Island)
- Location: Easter Island, Chile
- Built by: Rapa Nui people
- Year: 1400s-1600s
- Fact: Carved from volcanic tuff, their purpose remains a mystery, though they likely represent ancestral figures.
24. Forbidden City (China)
- Location: Beijing, China
- Built by: Ming Dynasty
- Year: 1406-1420
- Fact: The imperial palace of Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years, is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
25. Burj Khalifa (UAE)
- Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Height: 828 meters (2,717 feet)
- Year: Completed in 2010
- Fact: The tallest building in the world, symbolizing Dubai’s rapid modernization.