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Machu Picchu
Interesting places in Machu Picchu:Machu Picchu (Quechua: Old Peak; sometimes called the "Lost City of the Incas") is a well-preserved pre-Columbian Inca ruin located at 2,430 m (7,970 ft)^ on a mountain ridge. Machu Picchu is located above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, about 70 km (44 mi) northwest of Cusco. Forgotten for centuries by the outside world, although not by locals, it was brought back to international attention by archaeologist Hiram Bingham who rediscovered it in 1911, and wrote a best-selling work about it. Peru is pursuing legal efforts to retrieve thousands of artifacts that Bingham removed from the site.
Take the time to walk around the site; there are many places to see and explore. Although it is not necessary, taking a guided tour does provide a deeper insight into the ancient city, its uses, and information on the geography of it. Also, be sure to wake up early to miss the thousands of people that visit the site each day, or stay till closing time. The first buses start running at 5:40am, which will give you an hour or two in the pleasant light of dawn but before the full force of the sun begins hammering the mountainside. (If you plan to stay past 10am, sunblock is requisite.)
- Temple of the Sun - Near the summit of the main city, the stonework on the temple is incredible. Look closely and you will see that there are a variety of stone walls throughout the city. Most are rough stones held together with mud, the common stone walls found throughout the world. But many buildings or parts of buildings are done with the more distinctive and impressive closely-fit stonework. The temple is the absolute pinnacle of this technology. Observe it from the side, descending the stone staircase in the main plaza.
- Intiwatana
- Temple of the Three Windows
- Main Temple
- Condor - The tour guides will try to tell you that this was a temple, but look closely: between the wings of the condor is a chamber with grooves cut in the stone to secure manacles, a walkway behind where a torturer may walk to whip the prisoner's backs, and a scary looking pit to let the blood of prisoners drain. Clearly the condor was a symbol of cruel justice, but a santized version is told for the benefit of middle-aged tourists and their children.
The following sights involve some legwork:
- Walk back up the Inca trail away from the site and up the hill to the Sun Gate (or ); from here you can see back down each valley offering a excellent views. It's a gentle walk (probably 45 mins tops round trip) and well worth it. If you stay in Aguas Callientes, it is possible to get here early enough to catch the sunrise from here.
- Walk up Waynapicchu (in Spanish ); this is the "second" hill seen in the many photos. Its a steep but short walk offering very impressive views over the site. Well worth the effort! Waynapicchu also has ruins atop its peak. Two cautionary notes: The hike is somewhat strenuous and not advised for visitors who are elderly, pregnant or have heart/lung conditions. Also, the steep stairs and cliffs you must walk along at the summit can be terrifying for those who are afraid of heights. Note that the path to Waynapicchu closes at 4pm and you're not allowed to enter after 1pm. Entry is limited to 400 people per day. On busy tourist days, the limit will be reached by 10-11am. It is recommended you go straight here first thing. You will be required to sign in; remember your number (or the time you signed in) so that you can find yourself in the book to sign out again.
- If you have some time at hand or really longing for a sparkle of soltitude you can also walk to the Moon Temple and the Great Cave . It's a long walk and the sites aren't really rewarding, but unexpected wildlife can be seen (wild spectacled bears have been reported). This hike is also quite interesting because partway through you leave behind the mountain terrain and enter a more conventional forest. The caves can be reached either by hiking down the trail from the peak of Wachupichu (which includes some semi-harrowing but fun near-vertical descents) or by the split from the main Wachupichu trail (look for the sign that says Gran Carvern). Be sure to bring plenty of water for this long hike.
Top photos chosen by u all:
The Lost City Revealed...
Made by Trapac
It's as if the gods knew that after all that walking, the least they could do was give us a decent view and the cloud lifted..... The two smaller peaks on the left at the back of this picture, represent the half open wings of a young Condor, the cloud cover just lessens the impact but Inca Terracing in the natural dip was meant to represent the ruffled collar feathers of the birds neck - it would have been known then as Waynapichiu (young bird). That whole peak (mostly hidden behind the cloud in this picture) is now known as Waynapicchu (young Peak). The complex itself is built in the shape of a Condor, on this side you can see some of the terraces that make up the shape of the body. There is a 'pit' and the subsequent transition to the buildings marks the beginning of the 'wings' and in particular the right wing on this side. The Inca Trail leads you via the 'legs' going past the chest, neck and head of the Condor up on your left. If that's not enough to be getting on with, even within the design of the Condor, there is also a flying lizard (Amaru Tupac) incorporated on this side of the site (The Urin Sector) - kind of looks like a giant crocodile with a short tail clambering up the side of the mountain. We are looking at it from behind and above, it is a ritual space and has associations with the harvest among other things. whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm
Machu Picchu scale model
Made by mtchm
Few people know about it... most tourists visiting the side go past it without even noticing it. One of the reasons why I would advice to take a guide when visiting this kind of site... The rock on the right of the picture is about 1m high. Ithas been shaped to represent the mountains on which the ancient city has been built. You can easilly notice the reproduction of the Huayna Picchu (the young mountain), the moutain located in the background. The bump just before it is the Machu Picchu (the old mountain) itself, on which the city has been developed. The rift crossing the site has also been drawn up on the model, and taken into account while building the city. The smaller details represent the rivers and the paths leading to the secret peak. It is amazing to see the perfect knowledge they had of their direct environment - and the style to document it... My other shots from the Machu Picchu
Quintessential Peru Tourism Shot!
Made by Trapac
I know it's predictable but it is the quintessential image and I couldn't help myself. As my mother commented - it really is like that then? The reason that this is such a symbolic image is because the Condor, the Puma and the Lizard are all captured in the one picture, what you can't see (and wouldn't know) is that there is even a sculpture of a Condor in the 'tail' of the lizard. This is associated with the cult of the dead. The main body/trunk of the reptile (corresponding with the digestive tract, sic centre of assimilation) holds the 'House of the Chosen Women' or 'Acllahuasi'. These women wove fine textiles, and made ceremonial utensils, food & drink. Storehouses 'for food (qolcas) were built here too. whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm
Machu Picchu - Now You See Her....
Made by Trapac
Now you see it!!! Machu Picchu, Peru. The lone tree in the courtyard is right next what is the 'tail' of 'Amaru Tupac' the 'flying lizard' as it clambers out of the Vicanota River at the bottom of the 'abyss' towards the crouching Puma overlooking the site. The pyramid style terraces just beyond it depict the left hind leg. This is known as the 'Urin Sector'. Amaru Tupac is a mythical creature thought to represent the oldest being on earth. A mythical son of the water, lord of land and air, generator of life, provider of food, mother of condors and of pumas.* (*Fernando, E Ellorietta Salazar & Edgar Ellorietta Salazar. (2003) Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas Tanpu S.R.L. Cusco.) whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm
Last View of Aguas Calientes.
Made by Trapac
We were finally leaving Machu Picchu & Aguas Callentes behind , and I was a little bit sad because coming here had been a lifetime ambition and a month away from the vagaries of life at home had been a real privilege. Leaving this place was one more step closer to it all coming to an end. Appropriately I thought, the skies emptied and torrential rain fell over the town as we made final preparations. This was one last quick walk and a look at those green, green mountains with their cloud forests sweeping down towards us - I loved it - rain and all!! Minutes later, and we were on the train headed for Cusco.
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