Karnak Temple in Egypt was once better known as the ancient site of the Temple of Amun, dedicated to the god of sun and air. The ground the temple was built on was known to Ancient Egyptians as Thebes, believed to be the first city founded when the world was created. Built 5,000 years ago, on the winter solstice as the sun rises in the morning, the light penetrates the inner sanctum of the temple and rests on Amun Ra's Holy of Holies at the centre of Karnak. 

The pyramid of Chichen Itza was built in the early 400s A.D. and is dedicated to the feathered serpent god Kukulcan who ‘visits’ the temple at the spring equinox. The light and shadows create triangles on the side of the staircase and when the sun sets, it looks like a snake is slithering down the northern steps of the temple. At the summer solstice, the north and east sides of the pyramid become illuminated due to the axes running through the northwest and southwest corners oriented toward the rising point of the sun at this time of year, leaving the other side in shadow, seemingly splitting the pyramid in two.

The Incas believed themselves to be descendants of the sun, so when the southern hemisphere is furthest away from the sun producing the shortest day of the year for the winter solstice, it’s considered a very sacred time. Machu Picchu was partly designed to celebrate this once-a-year event and clearly demonstrates that the Incas had a complex understanding of the movement of the sun. 

At sunrise on the winter solstice, the light will stream through the window of the Temple of the Sun and fall directly on the ceremonial stone in the room, but head to the highest point within Machu Picchu, and you’ll see sunrise light up the entire ruins.

Jantar Mantar means ‘instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens’ and there are five of these astronomical observatories in north India built by Maharajah Sawaii Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the early 18th century. The stone-built instruments at the site are used to predict the time and the movements of the sun, moon and planets with the naked eye. Of the 13 architectural astronomy instruments there, you’ll find the Misra Yantra, which was designed to determine the longest and shortest days of the year. At the summer solstice, the back wall will show the sun's rays for a considerable amount of time, while a straight rod that acts as a gnomon will cast a shadow that looks like a large clock hand.

In the Tek Tek Mountains of Turkey, an important archaeological site was recently excavated and has unearthed some very interesting artefacts that suggest the site was ingeniously and creatively used by the Neolithic people for healing and regeneration. But at the winter solstice, sunrise will fully illuminate the stone head located there, much like other ancient solstice/equinox sites around the world. 

The 5000-year-old Stonehenge is one of those recognisable ancient sites synonymous with a solstice! The origin of this mysterious formation of enormous 13-foot erect stones located in Wiltshire is subject to much speculation, but for thousands of years has played host to summer solstice celebrations. Step inside the ring facing northeast you can see the sun rise just over the Heel Stone outside of the circle.