10 Most Beautiful Ancient Mayan Temples (with Photos)

The Mayan civilization, located primarily in the northern region of Central America, is one of the greatest pre-Columbian civilizations. In 250-900 BC. most of the Mayan city-states are at their peak. An important evidence of this is the ancient Mayan temples, which were built in almost all Mayan cities. For reasons that are still not known, most of the Mayan centers fell into decay over the following centuries and fell into ruins.

the most beautiful Mayan temples
The most beautiful Mayan temples

 1. Lamanai


Located in northern Belize, Lamanai was once a major Mayan city. Archaeologists have not yet fully explored all the ruins left from the city. Their work was focused on the restoration and further restoration of the 33 meter high temple located on the territory of the destroyed city. This is one of the most beautiful temples of the ancient Maya.

Maya temple
Lamanai

2. Coba


Coba is an ancient Mayan city located in Mexico. It was a fairly large city with about 50,000 inhabitants. Most of the monuments in this city were built between 500 and 900. Koba contains several large pyramidal temples. The tallest pyramid, Nohoch Mul, is about 42 meters high.

Coba
Coba

3. Caracol


Caracol is a large Mayan city located in Belize. The area of ​​the city was 168 square kilometers. At the peak of development. The city was inhabited by 150,000 inhabitants. The 43 meter high Canna pyramid has survived to this day.

Caracol
Caracol

4. Copan


The city located in western Honduras was relatively small, but quite famous for a series of wonderful stelae. Some of the stone structures at Copan date back to the 9th century BC. The city has preserved a Mayan temple, 30 meters high.

Copan
Copan

5. Tulum


Tulum is located on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. It once served as the main port of the city of Koba. Tulum was built around 1200 AD, when the Mayan civilization was already in decline.

Tulum
Tulum

6. Calakmul


Calakmul is the owner of more than 6,500 preserved ancient structures, among which there is a pyramidal temple, about 55 meters high.

Calakmul
Calakmul

7. Palenque


Palenque is an ancient Mayan city located in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Most of the structures in Palenque date back to around 600 AD. - 800 AD, including the Temple.

Palenque
Palenque

8. Uxmal


Uxmal is the best preserved Mayan city located in Mexico. On the territory of this city, a pyramidal structure of 40 meters has been preserved. Studying the pyramid, archaeologists came to the conclusion that it was built in 5 stages, starting from the 6th century and up to the 10th century.

Uxmal
Uxmal

 9. Tikal


Located in the rainforests of northern Guatemala, Tikal is perhaps the most spectacular of all Mayan cities. Tikal was the largest Mayan city with a population of 100,000 to 200,000. Tikal contains 6 very large pyramid temples. The largest, the pyramid temple, about 72 meters high, was built in 720 AD.

Tikal
Tikal

10. Chichen Itza


El Castillo is the nickname for one of the most impressive Mayan temples found in the city of Chichen Itza. The construction of the temple is of particular astronomical significance. Each face of the pyramid has a staircase of 91 steps, which, together with the general steps at the top, has 365 steps - the number of days in a year.

Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza

Mayan Temples Map