The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins · 2026
The Best Rock-Cut Sites in the World
5 of the 100 sites in The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins 2026 are rock-cut sites, in 3 countries. The highest placed is Ellora Caves in Ellora, India, at number 6 in the world. Serra da Capivara in São Raimundo Nonato, Brazil (number 21) and Ajanta Caves in Ajanta, India (number 26) follow.
Caves and rock temples
Ellora and Ajanta in Maharashtra are temples and monasteries cut into basalt cliffs; Ajanta is known for its wall paintings. Mahabalipuram on the Tamil Nadu coast has temples carved from single boulders.
Cliff dwellings and rock art
Mesa Verde in Colorado has stone houses built into alcoves of canyon walls. Serra da Capivara in Brazil is a park of rock shelters with prehistoric paintings.
