Dubbed “The Lost City of the Incas”, Peru’s Machu Picchu is an incredible sight to behold. Forgotten by the outside world for hundreds of years, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that attention was once again focused upon this incredible pre-Columbian city, which sits some 8,000 feet high on a mountain range overlooking the Urubamba Valley, deep in the Amazon jungle. Once modern-day archaeologists began to probe the remains of amazing Machu Picchu, word of this masterpiece of architecture spread, and people became intrigued with this Incan city, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and has recently been dubbed one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
Located about 45 miles from the town of Cusco, it is believed that Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450 AD, a time when the Inca Empire was at its height of power. There are several theories as to why this city was built high in the mountains of Peru by Incan emperor Pachacutec. Some believe it was the burial place of the emperor, as many remains of buildings covered in gold have been found. Such a site would have been befitting of a ruler. Others say it was an “Ilacta”, built to protect Incan aristocracy in case of an attack and to control the economy of the conquered regions. These days, however, the most agreed upon theory – based on a variety of archaeological evidence - is that it was built as the estate of Pachacutec. Because of the mountain’s alignment with key astronomical features, it is also believed that it was the site on an observatory and several astrological ceremonies. Such festivities were important to the beliefs of the Incas.
Since the rediscovery of Machu Picchu in 1911 by American explorer and historian Hiram Bingham, much has been learned about this amazing city. In probing the architecture of the remaining buildings and fragments of buildings, archaeologists have concluded that the city was divided into three sectors: the Sacred District, the District of the Priests and Nobility, and the Popular District (i.e. for the people/non-nobles). Buildings were constructed in popular Inca style, made of polished dry-stone walls in a method known as ashlar - blocks of stones cut to fit together tightly without benefit of mortar. More than 100 flights of stone steps were carved from single blocks of granite. Evidence shows the presence of many water fountains, believed to have been interconnected by channels and water-drainages perforated in the rock to form an irrigation system. The irrigation system may have been used to carry water from a holy spring, to each of the houses in turn according to the holiness of its inhabitants. There was also an agricultural area where crops, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers, were grown. The “popular” area also held a solar clock, used to gauge the exact dates of the two equinoxes and other celestial events deemed important by the Incas.
Evidence shows that Machu Picchu was abandoned in the first few decades of the 16th century, when Pizarro and the Spaniards defeated the Incas. It is also believed that more than half of the city’s residents may have died of smallpox even before the takeover.
Trips to Machu Picchu leave from Cusco. The train from that nearby city takes about 3 ½ hours. It’s often best to grab a morning train, explore for a few hours, and then return to Cusco by the late afternoon. If you prefer, you can stay overnight at accommodations in Aguas Calientes and take a bus to Machu Picchu. There is one hotel at Machu Picchu – the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. It’s difficult to get a reservation without much advanced planning and it’s very costly – about $750 USD per night. Hikers can travel the Inca Trail to the city, which usually takes 2 to 4 days including overnight stops with tent stays.
