Historical Ruins of the Great Zimbabwe
Posted under Travel Articles on February 8, 2012 by Waleed | 1,550 views
Zimbabwe has a lot more to offer than just the gorgeous Victoria Falls. The ruins of Great Zimbabwe the very same place which has given the new name to the nation which was previously called Rhodesia, is a must see place for any tourist that enter Zimbabwe. These magnificent ruins have always been shrouded in mystery about who built them as the white racists who were in control of the country during colonial years have always considered their architectural marvel beyond the capacity of the black Africans.
There were many theories that were floated by different archaeologists about the construction of this wonderful piece of architecture, some describing them as a work of Phoenicians while for others it was built by the Arab traders. What makes these huge structures unique is the fact that they were built without the help of mortar and they have stood the test of time. The builders ingeniously put the stones on top of each other in such a manner that they are supporting each other making a formidable structure.
As these ruins are becoming famous worldwide ever since UNESCO made them a part of world heritage program in 1986, so thousands of tourist arrive in Zimbabwe for the sole purpose of observing them. If you are not already then you will have to take a cheap flight to Harare the capital of the country from where you can hire a car for taking you to Masvingo the largest town in the area of the ruins roughly 18 kilometers away from them. There are quite a few hotels in the town that can provide you with decent services at a competitive price and as the tourist interest in the region is increasing so new and better hotels are also opening up in the town.
There are only a few tour operators in the region that can arrange a guided tour of the ruins for you and most of the guides that they provide know nothing about the history of the place so instead of spending some extra cash in hiring a guide’s services try to explore the ruins yourself.
The ruins are at places gigantic with the highest of the walls reaching 36 feet and considering the fact that they are built without using mortar the feat is surely mind boggling. The Hill complex is one of the largest structure of the ruins and because of its location on the hill also provides a great bird eye view of the ruins. The great enclosure which is the largest building is believed to be used by the inhabitants of the Great Zimbabwe for their community ceremonies and religious rituals.
Recently a museum has been built close to the ruins which is a great place for observing the artifacts that were recovered from the ruins. There is a small entry fee to the museum and its small size means that you will not require the services of a guide for exploring it as well. You will require a complete day tour to fully enjoy the magnificence of the ruins.
