Reliving History in Machu Picchu

(1)

Carved with an elegant green paradise of temples, terraces and baths, the breathtaking ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru has mysteriously hidden itself from travelers and conquerors over the course of history until the early 20th century.

Built within a bastion of stone walls fit together so tightly that even a knife’s blade can’t penetrate, it contributes to the planet’s most important archaeological sites to see.

LOCATION

(2)

The location of Machu Picchu is 112.5 km. northeast of the city of Cusco, and embraces a large area of the province of Urubamba in the Cusco territory.

Cusco is known to contain a huge range of splendid mountains. The Inca ruins, situated on a small hilltop between two mountains above the Sacred Valley, is also surrounded by the Urubamba River about 2000 feet below.

CLIMATE

(3)

Since Peru is a large country, its parts have various climates. For Macchu Pichu, it experiences generally hot rainy days and cooler sunny days.

Therefore, the best time to visit the place is when the weather is sunny. It gives plenty of opportunities to discover Machu Picchu and hike the Inca Trail. This pleasant weather of clear and cooler days happens from May to October.

TRANSPORTATION

(4)

Due to its spectacular location, early civilizations who are aware of the city reach the site through walking and hiking, which took about three to six days. Living in the 21st century, you have the option of flying to Cusco and taking a train to Machu Picchu. It takes less than four hours.

You can explore the city and return to Cusco on the same day. However, it would be preferable if you head to Aguas Calientes and spend a day and a night there before heading to Machu Picchu. It will give your body a chance to adapt to high altitudes. From Aguas Calientes, you can ride the bus to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am.

ATTRACTIONS

Introducing Machu Picchu

(5)

The Inca City of Machu Picchu was accidentally discovered by a professor, Hiram Bingham, while looking for the “last city” of the Inca ruins.

Little did he know, he was about to discover a much more wonderful sight to behold. It was said that when he first saw the maze of terraces and walls building the “lost city” in 1911, he found himself in a ghost town that had been hidden from the outside world for nearly 400 years. “It seemed like an unbelievable dream,” he later wrote. “What could this place be?” (Cited: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/04/inca-empire/sidebar-text)

Temple of the Sun

(6)

Definitely a must-see for travelers in Peru and South America, the Inca city of Machu Picchu is heavily vacated during the month of June through August, as the known semicircular Temple of the Sun presents unassailable views of the Sacred Valley below when the sun shines through a temple window and aligns with both the boulder within and the tip of a nearby mountain peak.

Architecture

(7)

Historians also believed that there is strong evidence of landscape engineering skills in Machu Picchu. As it is clearly observed, the city consists of stone buildings, walls, terraces, and ramps that unify the city and its location.

The most important structures in particular are the terraces. The Inca City consists of over 700 ancient terraces, which supply the city with crops. It serves as evidence of an old civilization which is aware of promoting agriculture, preserving the soil, conserving water, and limiting erosion.

http://laurenceourac.com/reliving-history-in-machu-picchu/

Images:

(1.) http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/machu-picchu-a-pre-columian-inca-ruin-ira-block.jpg
(2.) https://machupicchuturismo.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/peru-map.jpg
(3.) http://www.nikostours.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/machu-picchu-elevation.jpg
(4.) http://www.bahnbilder.de/1024/perurail-659–alcomlw-dl560d-632083.jpg
(5.) http://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/travel/destination-images/peru/machu-picchu/1400-hero-machu-picchu-inca-trail-llama.imgcache.rev1392047070327.web.1400.720.jpg
(6.) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Machupicchu_intihuatana.JPG
(7.) http://www.lovethesepics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/tourists-on-Incan-terraces.jpg