b'ELLORA,INDIAEllora is a group of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples carved into Western Indias vertical basalt cliffs between the 7th and 11th centuries. They showcase the genius of ancient Indian architecture. Here, the Kailasa Temple is the largest monolithic rock-cut monument in the world, meticulously carved with just chisels and hammers. An unusual aspect of the temple was that it was crafted from top to bottom. Walking through these mammoth monuments, and examining the exquisite art, makes these civilisations come alive.Kailasa Temple, Ellora, IndiaTEOTIHUACAN,MEXICOThe ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan is among the worlds most important archaeological sites. The citys origins are a mystery, and its exact age is unknown. What we do know is that it had already been abandoned for many centuries when the Aztecs discovered it in the1400s and named it Teotihuacan (birthplace of the gods). Walk around this UNESCO World Heritage site to admire the Templeof Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of theHot-air balloons over the pyramidsSun and the Moon, but also view this of Teotihuacan, Mexico magnificent city from the sky on a hot-air balloon ride.PHOTO: RATTHAM/ISTOCK.COM (INDIA)MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK,USAVisit ancient cliff dwellings on a sprawling tableland in Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado. This land is rich in history, and these homes belonged to the Ancestral Pueblos (Anasazis), a group of Native Americans who lived here between 450 CE and 1300 CE. The high-altitude mesa is dotted with hundreds of ruins of semi-subterranean pit houses, multistory homes built into the cliffs, and alcoves in canyon walls. Cliff Palace, with 217 rooms, is one of the largest dwellings. Regular walking tours guided by park rangers give visitors interesting insights and take them through some of the parks biggest and best-known archaeological sites. Some tours may involve climbing ladders and crawling through tunnels, but all provide a deep sense of history and place.TRUE VOYAGES \x1a13'