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It is a mystical place, a monument to divinity, where people can feel that they
are a creation of God. The high sense of spirituality that inhabits this place
seems to transport its visitors to a place where everything "in an unimaginable
way" is possible.
It is a place where strange forces of nature allow the individuals to reach an
incomparable cosmic state, a state that can only be experimented in Machu
Picchu.
It is one of the most popular archaeological sites of the world, and therefore,
the most visited attraction in Peru.
The Citadel of Machu Picchu (Quechua language "Old Mountain") is known
throughout the world for its amazing ruins and its unusual location on a high
mountain overlooking the mighty currents of the Urubamba river.
Even today nobody has been able to solve the mystery how the builders and
designers managed to transport the huge blocks of limestone to the top of the
mountain required for the construction of the city.
Probably built during the 15th century in a very difficult location, it is the
greatest achievement of the Incas architects due to the intelligence and dare
demonstrated by their design. It has an extent of 13 sq/km and its main
functions were military and religious. It used to be surrounded by an outer wall
with a height of 6.00 m. and a width of 1.80 m. and it is estimated that it was
inhabited by 10000 people. Built of limestone (the outer and inner walls), wood
(doors and frames), and ceilings made of straw.
Machu Picchu is located 2300 meters above sea level (7546 ft.), at 112 km. (70
miles) from Cuzco, in the Urubamba valley in the lowest part of the Sacred
Valley of the Incas in a area of direct access to the upper jungle. Without
doubt, Machu Picchu was part of a very big complex of fortresses which defended
the Andean lands in Sacred valley of any assault from native people out of the
jungle.
Having Huayna Picchu as a background they divided Machu Picchu in four sectors.
Northwest is located the area that was probably used for the main religious
purposes, that includes a Plaza named by Hiram Bingham as "Sacred Plaza", also
the temple of the "Three Windows", "The Sacred Temple", the "Priests Mansion",
and the "Intihuatana" that is a large block of limestone used during Inca
ceremonies.
The "Intihuatana" (Quechua "place where the sun is bonded") is a solar
observatory that allowed the Incas to keep track of the seasons of the year and
the flow of time based on the shadows caused by the sun over the stone.
The largest residences are located on the northeast of the complex. The most
luxurious residences and also a watch tower are located on the southwest of the
complex and therefore it is assumed that this part of the Citadel was probably
the heart of all the urban activities.
To the southeast of the complex are located the smallest and most humble of the
buildings built around very narrow streets, close to numerous terraces
constructed for agricultural purposes as denoted by the existence of a very
complex aqueduct system in this area. In the lowest part of the terraces is a
cemetery, where during a search were discovered 135 skeletons and 109 of them
were identified as females. This fact has allowed historians and archeologists
to believe that Machu Picchu's inhabitants were mostly females that could have
been the chosen ones of the Inca, fleeing from Cusco when it was overrun by the
Conquerors of Spain and seeking refuge in Machu Picchu that, by the way, was
never discovered by the Spaniards.
Machu Picchu was introduced to the scientific world by Hiram Bingham, who was
led to the site by the folk that lived in the area. He reached it on July
24th,1911. Bingham, an American Anthropologist from Yale University, was the one
that began the Archaeological studies of the area, and it was him who gave the
city the title of the "Lost City of the Incas" that was also the name he used
for his book on the subject.
Since 1981 it has been declared Historical Sanctuary as well as World Heritage
Site by UNESCO because of its archaeological importance as well as its unique
flora such as the orchids that you may find aplenty.
The Monumental Mausoleum is a construction made of limestone with carved walls
which interiors were used for religious rituals as well as sacrifices.
Inside the Citadel can be found a sector used as a jail where torment and
punishment were given to the prisoners that were kept inside small niches carved
in the stone.
The residential area includes a sector used by the nobles of the Citadel. It can
be distinguished by the fact that it is constructed over a slope and the
constructions are neatly separated from each other. Those residences were used
by the "Amautas" (Quechua language " wise people") and by the "Ñustas" (Quechua
language "princess") and their rooms had trapezoidal shape.
During the time of the Incas, Machu Picchu was reached following a mountain
trail at 3281 ft. over the left bank of Urubamba river. This trail went through
the following locations where interesting ruins in typical Inca style can still
be found and visited, if you decide to follow the Inca Trail: Patallacta,
Huallabamba, Runku Rakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyu Pata Marca and Huiñay Huayna.
From Machu Picchu you can take a trail shaped to the resemblance of a horse shoe
that will take you through high mountains and lead you to the breathtaking
summit of the Huayna Picchu that is located to the Northeast of the Citadel.
From there you will see the most beautiful view of the whole Citadel of Machu
Picchu and you may experience being close to the Gods that took the Incas
through their History. During the trip you will see natural caves, sculpted
caverns, and terraces with volleys of very steep stairwells that were shaped out
of the natural rock formations by the Incas. Also, at the top of the Huayna
Picchu you will see the Andenes (structures in the shape of terraces that were
used for agricultural purposes and semi circular walls).
If you enjoy good books and poems and if your travel plans include Machu Picchu
we may suggest to read the poem "Heights of Machu Picchu" (Alturas de Machu
Picchu) written by the famous Chilean writer and Nobel Prize winner Pablo
Neruda.
"For many people, the words Machu Picchu conjure up an image of a lost Inca
city, swathed in the green creepers of an encroaching jungle, hidden behind the
years, waiting to be discovered by intrepid explorers armed with machetes and
attended by armies of porters. It was like this, there's no doubt - all you have
to do is look at the photographs of the Hiram Bingham expedition to be reminded
of Indiana Jones from the film "Raiders of the Lost Ark" - but today, sadly,
some of the mystique has gone. You can now make a day trip to the site by train
or helicopter, and if you want to spend the night near the ruins there is a
reasonable hotels close to the old stones" R. Danbbury
"I felt infinitely small in the center of that navel of rocks of a deserted
world, proud, towering high, to which I somehow belonged. I felt that my own
hands labored there at some remote point in time, dining furrows, polishing
rocks": Pablo Neruda, Memories.
VISITING
MACHU PICCHU
Machu Picchu
Inca Citadel - Archaeological Site
Is a mystical place, a monument to divinity, where people can feel that they are
a creation of God. The high sense of spirituality that inhabits this place seems
to transport its visitors to a place where everything "in an unimaginable way"
is possible. It is a place where strange forces of nature allow the individuals
to reach an incomparable cosmic state, a state that can only be experimented in
Machu Picchu. It is one of the most popular archaeological sites of the world,
and therefore, the most visited attraction in Peru. Elected in the 7 New Wonders
of the World - July 2007.
Historic
Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Natural & Cultural World Heritage Site (UNESCO-1983). The park was established
to protect the landscape of the renowned Machu Picchu archaeological site,
founded by the Inca culture. It is thought that it was a royal Inca residence
and was perhaps the centre for collecting coca from surrounding plantations. The
site eventually fell into ruin, was covered by the encroaching forest, and "lost
to science" until re-discovery in 1911. Thee are also the remains of the Inca
Way in the area, and local legends, including that of the spectacled bear, which
is thought to serve as a messenger between the spirits of the high elevations
and those of the jungle.
Machu Picchu
Site Museum - Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, achieves the objectives of the
preservation and dissemination of cultural and archaeological research. Within a
modern and dynamic exhibition, the reopening of Site Museum Manuel Chavez Ballón
has become the primary means of communication and information for the most
important cultural Historical Sanctuary of Peru.
How to get
Machu Picchu
The traditional and most frequent is by train from Cusco city to the station
of Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes). Alternative is the Inca Trail, the
trekking route. The are no roads, no cars or buses, there are no airport.
Inca Trail to
Machu Picchu
Part of the 23,000 kilometers (approximately 14,000 miles) of roads built by the
Incas in South America, this is Peru's most famous trekking route and possibly
one of the most spectacular in the Americas. Every year; some 25,000 hikers from
around the world walk along the extraordinary 43 kilometers of this stone-paved
road built by the Incas leading to the unassailable citadel of Machu Picchu
located in the depth of the Cusco jungle.
Tourist
Services in Machu Picchu
You can found hotels from 5 stars class to cheap accommodation, there are
restaurants with Peruvian and international cuisine, Indian markets with
handicrafts and gifts, stores, and the basic public services.
Source © COMELTUR
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