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Featured Travel Article: Machu
Picchu, Peru
Buried deep within Peru almost
2,500 meters above sea level, amongst lush, almost virginal landscape, sits
Machu Picchu, fortress city of the ancient Incas. Machu Picchu had remained lost
for centuries and remained undiscovered by the Spanish conquistadors. It wasn't
until 1911 that lost city was discovered by an American archaeologist and
politician named Hiram Bingham (1875-1956), who travelled to Peru on an
expedition sponsored by Yale university.
Getting there:
If you plan on a vacation to
Peru, there are two methods to travel to Machu Picchu. One is via a 4hr train
journey from the Peruvian town of Cuzco. For the more fit and adventurous, you
can travel there via a 4 day trek along the Inca trail. If travelling by foot,
physical fitness is a must or else you might hold up the rest of your travel
party. It demands more than just the ability to walk for 4 days. You will have
your gear to carry during the trek (tent, sleeping bag & pad), and due to
the high altitude, you will need to do this in the thin air of the Andes
mountains. Local porters can be hired, however, to carry your gear if you feel
the need.
If taking the trek, make sure
to pack some water purification tablets, insect repellent, a flash light, and
some local currency in small denominations. Pack clothing for all temperatures,
as this can range from very warm days to very chilly nights.
If taking the Inca Trail, and
after the fourth day, the first ruins you will encounter will be those of
IntiPuncu, known as the 'Gateway to the Sun'. IntiPuncu is about an hours walk
from Machu Picchu, and is located in a notch in a ridgeline which allows the
morning sun to stream into the ancient city. It is from here that you will see
the first ruins of Machu Picchu in the distance.
About Machu Picchu:
Machu Picchu sits above dense
rainforests, and is one of the world's unique sanctuaries affording great
beauty, harmony, and balance. The ruins of Machu Picchu cover an area of 18sq Km
(5sq miles), with the Urubamba Canyon and river stretching across some 400
meters below. The name Machu Picchu actually means 'old peak'. The smaller
Huayna Picchu peak is often seen in photographs of the ancient city and this,
literally translated, simply means 'young peak'.
Machu Picchu was built by
Pachacuti Inca as a royal estate and religious retreat, probably around 1460-70.
It's remote location was purposely chosen. The only travel to the area was via
either the Lucumayo valley road, or the high road near Salcantay, and travel on
these roads was restricted except by Inca decree.
When constructed, Machu Picchu
was surrounded an outer wall with huge terraces, and an inner wall that had
guarded the city with what appeared to be a gate that once had a heavy door,
barred closed with a cross-log. Every square metre of space was cleverly used
and the mountainside was terraced for agricultural purposes. All parts of the
city were connected together by alleys, side streets, and more than 100
stairways carved into the rock. A narrow watercourse about four inches wide
enabled water to travel from springs on Machu Picchu mountain and spread
throughout the city.
After the death of Pachacuti
Inca, the city probably hosted Topa Inca and then later, the Incas last great
ruler, Huayna Capac. Each ruler added to the city their own palaces and estates,
but few outsiders travelled to or would have known of the existence of the city
due to its remote location and the secretive way of life of the Incas at the
time.
The climate of the area is
subtropical, hence warm and damp. April through to October are the hotter, drier
months, with the heaviest rainfalls occurring between November and March. The
American explorer Hiram Bingham (mentioned earlier) was said to have encountered
a condor with a wing span of over 3.5 metres, but unfortunately these
magnificent birds of prey can no longer be found in the area.
For more vacation information
on Machu Picchu, see the following website:
Machu
Picchu Peru travel and tourist information
Valuable resource for Machu Picchu and Cusco travel, with tours, hotels and Peru
tourist information also overview insights and photos.
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