The ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru – photo, description, map, how to get
Who has not heard of the Inca civilization, which a few centuries ago inhabited the vast territory of the South American continent, which now refers to Peru? Surely there are none among us. The greatest of civilizations was able to convey to the modern generation many secrets and mysteries that excite the mind and do not allow hundreds of archaeologists and historians from all over the world to sleep peacefully at night.
How and where to buy cheap air tickets read in our life hack.
Today we have to go to one of the most mysterious and intriguing places on the planet – the Inca city of Machu Picchu, which, due to its unusual location, has earned the title of “lost place” of the most ancient civilization. Machu Picchu is included in the list of UNESCO's greatest cultural and historical heritage sites. As archaeologists managed to establish, this city-settlement is the only place of the Incas, which the colonialists from Spain did not manage to reach. Therefore, the settlement today appears before numerous pilgrims and tourists almost in its original form.
Mysterious city in the Andes
The name Machu Picchu literally translates from the local dialect as “Old Mountain”. It is believed that the city was built by the Incas in the 15th century. The place itself was not chosen by chance. The Incas were famous for their desire to be closer to the gods they worshipped. This is one of the most bloodthirsty tribes that have ever inhabited the expanses of our planet. Their religious rites, of which sacrifice was an obligatory attribute, were aimed at appeasing their pagan gods. The Incas believed that it was through sacrifices that one could receive blessings from the gods for numerous wars, as well as cause rain or stop the epidemic.
That is why all lovers of fantastic stories, ancient legends and legends are drawn here, like a magnet. And it's just that tourists here will always have something to replenish their family photo album or get answers to many questions that are born in their inquisitive minds.
The city is located about a hundred kilometers from the main city of the ancient civilization – Cusco. For the first time, information about the settlement appeared only in 1911, when one of the representatives of the American school of archeology, Hiram Bingham, was able to gain the trust of the locals, and they revealed to him the secret of the ancient settlement. As it turned out, the local natives had long had information about the location of Machu Picchu, but they kept the information a secret, treating strangers with caution.
History reference
The history of the discovery of the ancient Inca settlement is quite interesting. The scientist mentioned above went to Peru in order to complete the search for the legendary city of Vilcabamba. According to the legend, it was this city that became the new home for the untold riches of civilization, whose representatives were fleeing from the conquerors from the Old World. In addition to treasures, mummies of rulers of several generations were allegedly taken here, as well as other items, which, undoubtedly, were of historical and archaeological value.
Hiram Bingham was wandering hopelessly through the local mountains when he met a boy who was carrying an unusual jug. He then showed the scientist the way to the ancient Machu Picchu. From that moment on, this place has become not only the most desirable for archaeological excavations, but also one of the most famous tourist centers in South America. Still, because who would deny themselves the pleasure of visiting one of the New Wonders of the World, to which the city was assigned in 2007.
There are many legends, legends and interesting facts about Machu Picchu, which are of genuine interest not only to history buffs, but also to millions of tourists. In particular, it is believed that initially this place was the property of the Supreme ruler of the Incas, Pachacutec (according to other information, the settlement was the winter residence of the ruler), which after the death of the priest was transformed into the main center of Inca learning. It was here that the most noble representatives of civilization, the inhabitants of the capital, sent their children.
There was also a division of education. So, the boys were trained in astronomy, and the girls were given as apprentices in the textile industry. It was astronomy that was given paramount importance to the Incas, who were convinced that the gods give them a lot of clues by the arrangement of stars and other celestial bodies. It was in heaven that the priests found answers to their questions and unraveled the omens. But there is another version of the purpose of the city. Some archaeologists argue that the construction of Machu Picchu high in the mountains was due to defensive considerations, and also allowed to establish control over the territories where tropical fruits grew.
sudden disappearance
Well, where without secrets! It existed for a little over a century, the city was suddenly deserted. No more voices were heard in the houses and on the streets, and the altar for sacrifices was empty for the first time in many years. What happened to the Incas who inhabited Machu Picchu remains one of the main mysteries of our time. They just disappeared. Some scholars attribute this to the banal capture and plunder of the capital Cusco, from which provisions were supplied to the city. The Incas were forced to leave their homes in search of provisions and a new place to settle.
There are other versions. Thus, supporters of the legend of the mythical city of Vilcabambu suggest that representatives of the lower classes went to fight the colonialists, and the nobility went to the mentioned city with treasures and artifacts. There are even supporters of fantastic theories that connect the disappearance of the Incas with otherworldly forces or even UFOs. Be that as it may, the city disappeared from the face of the earth for a long 400 years, as if waiting for the return of its real owners. Years passed, but the houses, as before, were empty, and only new cracks appeared in the huge walls of the palace and temple. Although who knows, perhaps among the locals there are descendants of ancient builders or even representatives of the nobility that once lived in Machu Picchu…
All this is insanely interesting and worth visiting this marvelous place, which impresses not only with its unique architecture, but also with local landscapes. Just imagine, the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, which are here and there overgrown with lush greenery, in the middle of the huge ledges of the Andes mountain range. And all this is hidden behind a dense veil of blue fog that almost never recedes from the walls of Machu Picchu. Something, but vivid impressions and indescribable emotions are provided to every visitor.
Architectural Features
In general, the sanctuary city cannot boast of impressive size. There are no more than 200 structures of various purposes and sizes. Most of it is occupied by temples and premises for public needs. Already in those distant times, the Incas learned how to process stone with the help of the most primitive devices, carving perfectly even slabs. The walls of each building amaze with their perfectly flat surface. Even modern researchers find it difficult to explain how the Incas managed to obtain slabs with such a perfectly flat surface that they were used to build a palace and a temple.
Despite the fact that the city was abandoned, and no human has set foot on its streets for more than 400 years, it has been perfectly preserved. Each building, sanctuary or palace allows you to draw an unambiguous conclusion about the main activities of the Incas. The main pagan deity, the sun god Inti, was especially revered within these walls.
In general, Machu Picchu has a peculiar layout. Palaces and buildings for the nobility are located in the southeast. These buildings stand out from the rest with their special stonework and luxurious decoration. The Incas also actively used voids in the mountains. The walls of the caves were carefully processed, and the voids themselves had different social meanings (in some of them, as if in a refrigerator, food was stored). Interestingly, the specificity of laying stone slabs exactly copies the architecture of Aladzha-Huyuk, in Turkey. Whether this is a coincidence or a common technology – one can only guess, there is no reasonable explanation for this phenomenon.
The temple, next to which there is an altar for sacrifices, is located in the western part of the ancient city. And opposite it is a block with dense residential development. Here you can also find unusual two-story buildings, which, for sure, belonged to the middle strata of the population.
Well, the most impressive in terms of architecture are the semicircular tower and the building adjacent to it, which are located in the southeastern part of the city. The special techniques that were used in the construction and the unusual shape indicate that master artists worked on the project. But these were clearly not the builders who were engaged in the construction of residential buildings and the palace. The tower almost exactly repeats the architecture of the tower of the temple of the Sun, which is located in the capital of the Incas. It is believed that the building was intended for religious ceremonies and for the defense of the city.
The tower has a lot of features. In particular, its walls were erected around the rock, which remained in its original form, and under it there is a grotto. Initially, it was believed that it was here that the mummies of the rulers of civilization were kept, but later scientists came to the conclusion about the religious purpose of the underground room.
sacred square
It is she who is considered the religious center of Machu Picchu. In its northern part there is a building of three walls, which are made of huge white marble slabs. In the eastern part of the Sacred Square, there is the “Temple of the Three Windows”, which have the shape of a trapezoid and face east.
On the rock, which is located on the square, there is a polygonal stone. It is believed that it was a kind of observatory of the Sun, according to which the ancient priests independently determined the dates for sowing and harvesting.
Master Architects
In general, in the city and beyond, there are many reminders of how skilled the local builders were. For example, the road that connected Machu Picchu with the capital Cusco. It is still able to amaze with its scale and beautiful architectural performance. Basically, the roads that connected different cities and settlements of the ancient civilization are made in the form of steps. Particular attention was paid to drainage and ground preparation. That is why the roads were not washed out even during the rainy seasons.
Picchu War
If you go on a visit to the ancient city, be sure to find the opportunity to visit Wayna Picchu. This name has a mountain that is located just outside the city. The path to its top is quite difficult and will require excellent physical fitness from you. But the breathtaking views that open from the mountain will be a worthy reward for such a difficult climb. Here you can see a few more Inca buildings, as well as take great pictures. To get to the mountain, you will have to purchase a ticket, the cost of which is approximately $ 10.
How to get there
If you like to travel light and prefer to save as much as possible while traveling, you should give preference to public transport. When you get to Cusco, you need to buy a bus ticket to Urubamba, and then transfer to transport to Oyantaytambo. After that, it remains only to catch the evening train to Aguas Calientes. This is the closest point to Machu Picchu. This way will take at least 5-7 hours. The cost of a one-way trip is approximately $30.
If you can and want to save time, buy a ticket for a direct train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, which will reduce travel time to a couple of hours, but the cost of such a pleasure will be approximately $ 100.
Well, for thrill-seekers and gourmets, we recommend going along the Inca Trail on foot. The route will take approximately 4 days, so you will need average physical training, a tourist kit and provisions. Well, for those who will be in these places for the first time, experienced guides will help to avoid trouble and not get lost.
Finally, advice: no more than 2500 tourists are allowed into the city every day, so book tickets and think over the excursion program in advance. Good luck in Peru and have a great experience!