Machu Picchu
One of South America's major travel destinations and tourist attraction in Cusco - Peru, considered as a Wonder of the world, the fortress of Machu Picchu is an architectural jewel situated between the Peruvian’s andes and the upper jungle, in a strategic and hidden point. It sits on a mountain site of extraordinary beauty with its giant walls, terraces and ramps, which appear as though they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. Machu Picchu is a quechua word that means “old mountain or the main mountain” In front of it, the amazing mountain of Wayna Picchu appears (“young mountain”) in which between summits and slopes, some archeological remains are located.
History
It was discovered only in 1911 by the American Yale professor Hiram Bingham. The building style is "late imperial Inca" thought to have been a sanctuary or temple inhabited by high priests and the "Virgins of the Sun" (chosen women).Archaeologists and historians coincide that Machu Picchu was built by the Inca Pachacutec, who governed from 1438 to 1471 from the fifteenth century approximately, a date confirmed by carbon 14 (radioactive carbon) dating.
The first Peruvian civilization settled in Huantar (Ancash) in around (1200 - 1000 BC). The power of the civilization, based on a theocracy, was centered in the Chavin de Huantar, temple, whose walls and galleries were filled with sculptures of ferocious deities with feline features.
Archaeological researchers tend to support the theory that Machu Picchu was a royal hacienda destined for the worship of the Inca's gods, as well as a mighty challenge to the monarch's construction skills, built as a refuge for the elite of Inca aristocracy. Its strategic geographic location was amazingly well chosen. Surrounded by steep cliffs and secluded from the sight of strangers by the thick jungle around it, the citadel of Machu Picchu had the special virtue of possessing only one narrow entry point, which enabled a successful defense by a handful of warriors in the event of surprise attack.
Occupied by at least three generations of Incas, the fortress of Machu Picchu was abandoned in a sudden and mysterious way. The most likely theories explain its disappearance from historical memory by the fact that its existence was unknown to the lower castes, and all but the small circle of the Inca's immediate retinue were forbidden to approach it.
Location
The fortress was located on the eastern slope of the Vilcanota Cordillera, some 80 km from Cusco, the capital of the empire, 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, about 70 km (44 mi) northwest of Cusco.
Climate
The whole archaeological complex covers approximately 5 square kms. It is situated in the high jungle, overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba river in a semi-tropical area its climate is warm and humid. The rainy season is from December to April.
The citadel
The building of Machu Picchu’s citadel is one of the biggest architectonic works that the Inkas did, because it has a difficult topographic area and its inaccessible zone to build a fortress, the citadel has one of the best extraordinary landscapes.
The original entrance to the complex is on the southwestern side of the citadel at the end of the Inca Trail, a short walk away from "Intipunko " (Sun Gate), the ancient final check point to Machu Picchu. The present entrance on the southeastern side leads to the agricultural section. The complex can be divided in three distinct sections: Agricultural, Urban, and Religious.
The agricultural area consists of a series of terraces and irrigation channels that serve dual purpose, as cultivation platforms making it self sustained, and as retention walls to avoid erosion. Some smaller buildings next to large terraces are part of this section and thought to have served as lookout posts.
The urban section starts at the wall that separates it from the agricultural area, this group of buildings were constructed on the ridge that descends abruptly to the Urubamba valley. In the southern part of this section are found a series of niches carved on rock known as "the jail" with elements that include man size niches, stone rings would have served to hold the prisoner's arms, and underground dungeons.
The central plaza that separates the religious from the urban section, has a great rock in the center. The religious section contains splendid architecture an masonry work, one of the most important and enigmatic is probably the Intihuatana shrine, this block of granite was presumably used to make astronomical observations.
Descending the hill next to this site is the Great Central Temple, a three walled building with fine stonework and an attached smaller temple called the "Sacristy". Next to this structure is another three walled building, known as the 'Temple of the Three Windows', so called because of the trapezoidal openings on the east wall. Directly across is the Royal sector, with ample buildings typical of Inca royalty. A very important structure in this section is the "Temple of the Sun", a: circular tower with the best stonework of Machu Picchu. Its base forms a cavern known as the Royal Tomb. Recent studies show that the actual purpose was for astronomical observance.
Huayna Picchu, young peak, is as much a part of the site as the buildings of the citadel, the towering granite peak overlooks Machu Picchu to the North with a steep well preserved original Inca path, well worth the one hour climb for an astounding view of the citadel and the entire valley.
'The Temple of the Moon', located halfway down in an underground chamber on the north side of the Huayna Picchu, is a fairly recent discovery. The access to this site is rather difficult and diverges left from the main trail. It contains finely carved structures on large boulders. The climb to the top takes about three hours.
Flora y Fauna
The natural setting on the eastern slope of the Andes encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of species the most important are the birds and Orchids in Machu Picchu .
For bird watching enthusiasts, the Natural park of Machu Picchu , which extends more than 32,000 acres, also displays many varieties of flowers as well as a large group of animals and approximately 1300 species of exotic birds. This represents also another way to visit Machupicchu.
Opening hours
The sanctuary is open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. visitors have 11 hours to be around the citadel knowing the “Lost City of the inka’s empire”
How to get to Machu Picchu
There are three routes leading to Machu Picchu:
- By rail - the most rapid and comfortable - following the course of the Urubamba River
- On foot - following the traditional and true route of entry, best known as the Inka Trail.
- The bridge in Carrilluchayoc is the newest way to get to the town of Aguas Calientes from where you can easily reach Machu Picchu. All this is a tropical zone from Santa Maria and Santa Teresa wich belongs to la Convencion and Quillabamba, also haveing for the visitor wonderful alternatives for an Eco Adventure.
A minimum of one whole day is needed to visit these ruins and upon arrival there, one should have approximately 2 hours to go over the main part and have lunch at the hotel on your return, before taking the mini-bus anew down to the Puente Ruinas Station (2.30 pm). The traveler who has more time to spare may stay overnight at the Machu Picchu city.
