Cuzco & Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Cuzco is an ancient Inca site which is located in the county of Peru. It is situated 2,400m above sea level and is therefore considered as perfect tourist site. Located in the Urubaba Valley which is located close to Cusco, the city is home to the famous Urubabba River. Often referred to as “The Lost City Of The Incas”, Machu Picchu Cuzco is now considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.
The city was built in the year 1460 but was abandoned during the Spanish Conquest and was left untouched for numerous centuries. In the year 1911, an American historian by the name of Hiram Bingham, discovered this site and highlighted this beautiful land to thee rest of the world. Ever since the discovery, tourists from all across the globe prefer Machu Picchu travel to any other destination.
Machu Picchu Cuzco is considered one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is also stated to be a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary. The site is also considered sacred and untouched as it was not plundered during the Spanish conquests. This makes Machu Picchu travel even more historic and is therefore preferred by tourists from across the world. The city is also said to have been built in a typical Inca style and is therefore made up of dry stone walls. There are three main buildings in this city. The first is the Temple Of The Sun, the second is the Room Of The Three Windows and the third is The Intihuatana.
The city of Machu Picchu was built in the year 1460, only to be abandoned a hundred years later due to the Spanish conquest. Known as the birthplace of the “Virgins of The Sun”, the city’s inhabitants are said to have fallen victims of small pox and had thus perished before the Spanish could reach them. Few people believe that the city was in reality a prison wherein criminals who dared to disobey the Inca emperor were locked up and tried, while others are of the belief that it was the economic capital of the Inca Empire. Scholars Richard Burger and John Rowe found out that the city was in reality the estate of the Inca emperor.
The city is located eighty kilometers from Cusco and is therefore fairly close to civilization. Nonetheless, during the Spanish conquests, it was neglected and never discovered. While the rest of the Inca sites were plundered by the Spanish conquerors, the city of Machu Picchu was left intact. As the years passed, the city got covered with forests and remained untouched for centuries.
The Incas were considered the best stone masons of the world and the city of Machu Picchu is a perfect example of their architectural genius. The stones are pressed against each other without the use of any mortar and are said to leave no gaps in between. The use of mortar was avoided as the land was considered seismic and while the contemporary buildings collapsed, those built without the aid of mortar had the ability to withstand the shocks of an earthquake. Machu Picchu travel includes over a hundred and forty structures, various wildlife sanctuaries parks and a firsthand view of the traditional thatched huts. The city was divided into three sections-the Sacred District, The Popular District and the District of the Priests.
This is one of the many ritual stones in South America but unlike many other ritual stones, this has remained intact. Popularly known as “The Hitching Point of the Sun”, the site is believed to be an astronomical clock designed by the Incas. The stone was damaged when a crane fell on it while on the sets of a beer advertisement. The tourism sector is under tremendous pressure as there is a constant threat from the tourists and those who wish to transform this heritage site into a full-fledged business. Cable cars and restaurants would add pressure on the ruins and the idea of having a helipad is also opposed by various scientists. UNESCO is planning to deem Machu Picchu Cuzco as an endangered world heritage site to protect it from further damage.
The city was built in the year 1460 but was abandoned during the Spanish Conquest and was left untouched for numerous centuries. In the year 1911, an American historian by the name of Hiram Bingham, discovered this site and highlighted this beautiful land to thee rest of the world. Ever since the discovery, tourists from all across the globe prefer Machu Picchu travel to any other destination.
Machu Picchu a Historical Site
Machu Picchu Cuzco is considered one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is also stated to be a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary. The site is also considered sacred and untouched as it was not plundered during the Spanish conquests. This makes Machu Picchu travel even more historic and is therefore preferred by tourists from across the world. The city is also said to have been built in a typical Inca style and is therefore made up of dry stone walls. There are three main buildings in this city. The first is the Temple Of The Sun, the second is the Room Of The Three Windows and the third is The Intihuatana.
A Brief History of Machu Picchu
The city of Machu Picchu was built in the year 1460, only to be abandoned a hundred years later due to the Spanish conquest. Known as the birthplace of the “Virgins of The Sun”, the city’s inhabitants are said to have fallen victims of small pox and had thus perished before the Spanish could reach them. Few people believe that the city was in reality a prison wherein criminals who dared to disobey the Inca emperor were locked up and tried, while others are of the belief that it was the economic capital of the Inca Empire. Scholars Richard Burger and John Rowe found out that the city was in reality the estate of the Inca emperor.
Location of Machu Picchu Cuzco
The city is located eighty kilometers from Cusco and is therefore fairly close to civilization. Nonetheless, during the Spanish conquests, it was neglected and never discovered. While the rest of the Inca sites were plundered by the Spanish conquerors, the city of Machu Picchu was left intact. As the years passed, the city got covered with forests and remained untouched for centuries.
The Basic Architecture
The Incas were considered the best stone masons of the world and the city of Machu Picchu is a perfect example of their architectural genius. The stones are pressed against each other without the use of any mortar and are said to leave no gaps in between. The use of mortar was avoided as the land was considered seismic and while the contemporary buildings collapsed, those built without the aid of mortar had the ability to withstand the shocks of an earthquake. Machu Picchu travel includes over a hundred and forty structures, various wildlife sanctuaries parks and a firsthand view of the traditional thatched huts. The city was divided into three sections-the Sacred District, The Popular District and the District of the Priests.
The Intihuatana Stone
This is one of the many ritual stones in South America but unlike many other ritual stones, this has remained intact. Popularly known as “The Hitching Point of the Sun”, the site is believed to be an astronomical clock designed by the Incas. The stone was damaged when a crane fell on it while on the sets of a beer advertisement. The tourism sector is under tremendous pressure as there is a constant threat from the tourists and those who wish to transform this heritage site into a full-fledged business. Cable cars and restaurants would add pressure on the ruins and the idea of having a helipad is also opposed by various scientists. UNESCO is planning to deem Machu Picchu Cuzco as an endangered world heritage site to protect it from further damage.
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