There are currently 195 countries in the world. However, this number changes all of the time. Over the years and even in our lifetimes, the number has gone up and down. This is because of countries breaking up and sometimes merging together. More often than not, this is due to political or religious reasons. Unfortunately which often end in war. Therefore there are now a number of ’lost’ countries. Many of which have been replaced with two, three, four (sometimes more) ’new’ ones.
Other ’lost’ countries are considered to be so because they have changed their name. If you have friends or family members who are old enough to remember their previous name, they may even still refer to it by that.
azurecollection.com have produced an infographic which can be found at the bottom of this post. It highlights some ‘lost’ countries. It also provides details about what they were originally called, what country it is now part of, things to do and what language is spoken there. This proves that you too can discover a number of ‘lost’ countries yourself. Over the years, we have been lucky enough to visit a number of them. For us, these include:
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia was formed following the end of World War I and formally ended in 1992 following the bloody Yugoslav Wars. Today the countries that once made up Yugoslavia are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia. All of which are now popular or up and coming tourist destinations. Each country offers something different, yet something for everyone.
If you are a Game of Thrones fan then a trip to Croatia, especially the beautiful walled city of Dubrovnik, should be high on your list. If you fancy a beach break then why not head to the wonderful seaside resort of Budva located on the Budva Riviera overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. It is the perfect destination for a relaxing break. Whereas if city breaks are more your thing, Ljublana which is Slovenia’s capital and its largest city is a must.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe and like Yugoslavia was formed following the end of World War I. However, unlike Yugoslavia, the split was a peaceful one. Nowadays the two countries that made up Czechoslovakia are the Czech Republic and Slovakia (officially the Slovak Republic). Both countries are beautiful, each with wonderful capital cities.
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is home to a number of breathtaking buildings and fantastic architecture. From the Charles Bridge to Prague Castle and not forgetting the 600-year-old Astronomical Clock, Prague is perfect if you fancy a city break full of character and charm. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia is equally as appealing and fast becoming a tourist hotspot, not only because of its sights and attractions but also because of its fascinating history.
Siam
One country that’s changed its name is Thailand. It was previously known as Siam. Well actually Siam, then Thailand, then Siam again before reverting back to Thailand in 1948. It is located in South East Asia and is made up of 76 provinces. Approximately 35 million tourists visit Thailand annually. With accommodation, activities and attractions available for every budget, Thailand is a great destination regardless of if you are a backpacker or in search of 5 Star luxury.
Thailand has hundreds of islands, making it perfect for a relaxing beach break. Our personal favourite is Koh Samui where we spent the bulk of our honeymoon. We indulged in lots of sightseeing, watersports, Thai massages and of course delicious food. However, if you prefer a faster paced holiday then the large cities of Chiang Mai, Phuket and Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, might be more your cup of tea.
Ceylon
Another country that’s changed its name is Sri Lanka (officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka), formerly Ceylon before 1972. Sri Lanka is an island in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. It’s a fantastic and vibrant country and one with a rich and diverse history. Making it a great place to visit. From the popular beaches of Unawatuna, to the tea plantations in Kandy and not forgetting being able to get up close and personal with local wildlife at the Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s a great country to visit and appeals to millions of visitor every year.
As a predominantly Buddist country, Sri Lanka is also home to numerous beautiful temples which are well worth a visit. Some of our favourites include the Dambulla Cave Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site together with the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Rumassala Temple.
There are of course a lot more ‘lost’ countries including Iran (previously Persia), Myanmar (previously Burma) and Taiwan (previously Formosa), just to name a few. Maybe you have visited some yourselves? If not we hope this post helps you when planning your next holiday and reiterates to you that ‘Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost’.
- Collaborative Post
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