Where is Machu Picchu? How to get to the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu?

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Of course, everyone has heard of the mysterious city of Machu Picchu. This is a place that hides secrets that have not been solved so far. This monument is one of the seven new wonders of the world. Do you know where Machu Picchu is located, why is it so unique? Let's find out.

Old Mountain

Machu Picchu has several names. The first is the "old mountain". This is how Machu Picchu is translated from the ancient Quechua language. The ancient city fits so organically into the surrounding landscape that it was called the "sky-city" or "heavenly city". Up there, it seems that the triangular roofs of small houses are part of the landscape.

The Inca City of Machu Picchu is an architectural masterpiece. In order to erect such a structure, the builders had to have knowledge of geology, topography, ecology and astronomy. Indeed, during the construction, the Incas used natural mountain slopes and made the buildings stable even in case of tilts and earthquakes.

Machu Picchu is an incredible building! How could something like this be built?remains a mystery for now. After all, the stones for the construction of the city were transported from remote quarries. So, the workers dragged them along the wet clay slopes and dragged them on logs without the use of any equipment. And how the stones are perfectly polished! Even now, nothing can be pushed into the joints between the plates.

No wonder Machu Picchu has been protected by UNESCO since 1983. And in 2007 he entered the list of New Wonders of the World.

Where is Machu Picchu

The mysterious city was built in the middle of the fifteenth century. Machu Picchu is located in the state of Peru. To be more precise, a hundred kilometers from the capital of the Inca Empire - the city of Cusco. The city is so secluded in the Andes mountains that even the Spanish colonialists could not find it.

The picture on the left shows the location of Machu Picchu on the world map.

By the way, no one knew anything about this wonder of the world for a long time. Among scientists, there were only legends about a mysterious city in Peru. And only in 1911 the city was discovered by scientist Hiram Bingham from Yale University. By the way, the locals always knew where Machu Picchu was, but they were in no hurry to share their knowledge with the whole world.

Discovery history

By the way, the discoverer of Machu Picchu found the city by accident. In fact, Hiram Bingham was looking for a completely different place - the legendary Vilcabamba. According to legend, the Incas brought all their gold and treasures, the mummies of the pharaohs and other riches there to hide them from the Spanish conquerors. Hiram led his search just inthose mountains where Machu Picchu is located.

In Peru, the locals are not very talkative, so he could not really find out anything about Vmlcambamba. But here the scientist was lucky. In the mountains, he met a boy who was carrying a ceramic jug of water. The scientist immediately realized that this was not a simple vessel, and asked the child where he got it. And the boy, for only a third of a dollar, told him about the “heavenly city” and, through the simplicity of his soul, showed him the way to it. So in 1911, the road to the ancient Inca citadel was opened, which survived the rise and fall of their great empire.

City designation

Today it is reliably known for what purpose the Incas built this "heavenly city". According to the documents of the sixteenth century, Machu Picchu had the status of the residence of the Supreme Inca Pachacutec. After the death of the leader, the city began to be used as an academy for children from noble families. Here they studied astronomy and textile craftsmanship. Both men and women were trained.

There is also a version that the city had a military purpose. It was from here that control was provided over the tribes that obeyed the Incas, as well as over access to fertile lands and tropical regions in which fruits, pumpkins and other plants used in medicine were grown. At that time, these were the most important and necessary products.

Worship the Gods

Machu Picchu is also a religious city. As scientists have discovered, most of the buildings here are temples and palace buildings. The Inca civilization worshiped the deity Inti, which symbolizedSun.

According to the little information that scientists managed to find, not everyone could enter Machu Picchu, but only the elite - priests with retinue, the highest nobility, as well as artisans recognized as the best (after all, growing crops at an altitude of two kilometers not everyone could). Mamakunas were also allowed into the city - virgins who devoted themselves to serving the god Inti.

To this day, the main city temple - the Three Windows - has been preserved. It was a key building in all the ancient rituals of the townspeople. Three beams of light that fall on the main square through the windows of the temple symbolize the three founders of the Inca Empire. According to legend, three deities entered this world through the windows of the Machu Picchu temple, as messengers of the god Inti.

Where did the people disappear to?

The legendary city of Machu Picchu has been empty for a very long time. How long is not known. But in 1532, when the Spanish invaders invaded the territory of the Inca Empire, the city was already empty. All the inhabitants have mysteriously disappeared. What happened to them? Died or starved to death? Or maybe they went to another settlement? We will probably never know.

There is a version that people left the city because of hunger. Machu Picchu was closely associated with the capital of the Cusco Empire. And when the Spaniards conquered the capital, the supply of provisions to Machu Picchu stopped. In order not to die of starvation, people left the city.

According to another version, all the simple estate went to fight the Spaniards and fell in battle, and the nobility and priests took all their treasures and went to the legendaryVilcabambu. There are other versions, so the reason for the disappearance of the inhabitants may lie in something completely different.

Conclusions about how many Incas lived in Machu Picchu can be drawn from the study of the ruins of the city. The city had at least two hundred different buildings that were built from stone slabs. The blocks were tightly fitted to each other and well processed. After examining the internal layout and other, smaller details, archaeologists determined that most of the buildings served to worship the gods, store food, etc. According to rough estimates, more than a thousand Incas lived in the city of Machu Picchu!

Artifacts

In 2011, a hundred years have passed since the opening of the city. On that legendary day in 1911, Professor Hiram Bengham discovered the city and explored it to the best of his ability. And he took the artifacts found there to Yale.

Since then, Peru has repeatedly negotiated with the United States of America that the Inca heritage be returned to their homeland. And only in 2010 did the US authorities finally sign the agreement.

In 2011, more than 4,000 artifacts found at Machu Picchu in Peru finally returned to their homeland. Today they are exhibited in the museum of the city of Cusco.

Young mountain

The Wayna Picchu Ridge can be reached by a steep path directly from the city of Machu Picchu. Of course, you have seen the photo of this mountain. She is always depicted just outside Machu Picchu. Translated from the ancient Quechua language, this name means "Young Mountain".

Why is Wayna Picchu so interesting?There, too, many temples and residential buildings of the Incas have been preserved. However, the path to the young mountain is quite difficult and dangerous, and not everyone will be able to overcome it. Only well-trained people can decide on such a trip.

Wishing to climb to Wayna Picchu a lot. But a limited number of people are allowed there. Only 400 people can make such a trip per day. If you want to go to Wayna Picchu, you must purchase a double ticket at the box office in advance: Machu Picchu + climb to Wayna Picchu. Such a ticket will cost only ten dollars more than usual, without lifting.

When to travel

You can go to Machu Picchu in Peru at any time of the year. As they say, when there is money, time and desire. There are two seasons here: dry and rainy seasons.

Dry season is the most favorable, hot and at the same time convenient for travelers. It starts in April and ends in early October.

The temperature here is even throughout the year. However, you need to be prepared for sharp fluctuations in temperature during the day (25-27 degrees) and at night (up to 10-12 degrees).

For those who are not afraid of the weather and do not like crowds, the best time to travel to Machu Picchu is from the beginning of November to the end of February. At this time, due to the weather, there are the least number of tourists here. Therefore, you can safely walk through the ruins. Just don't forget to bring a raincoat or umbrella with you when heading to Machu Picchu at this time.

How to get there

So, you can endlesslytalk about the beauty of this place, but it's better to see everything with your own eyes. Now, knowing where Machu Picchu is located, it is worth considering how to get to it. And the easiest way is to get to Machu Picchu from the capital of Peru - the city of Lima.

The journey will consist of three stages.

First: from Lima to Cusco. You have to get there by air. You will spend an hour and a half on the flight. The city of Cusco is located at an altitude of three and a half kilometers above sea level. Therefore, when you get off the plane, you can be affected by the so-called mountain sickness. To counter it, drink coca tea, chew the herb, or buy special Sorojchi Pills containing coca. Well, go slower.

To acclimatize faster, the next morning after arrival, go to Machu Picchu. The Inca citadel is located at an altitude of two and a half kilometers above sea level, and it will be much easier for you there. And Cusco can be seen on the way back. It's the former capital of the Inca Empire, so there's a lot to see here too.

Step two: from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. You need to get there by train. Aguas Calientes is the town closest to Machu Picchu. A small town huddles at the foot of the mountains. It must be borne in mind that the train from Cusco is the only possible way to Machu Picchu. Therefore, it is always packed with tourists. To get on it and arrive in comfort, you must purchase tickets in advance on the special website of the Peru Railway.

Distance fromCusco to the destination rather big - 92 kilometers. On the way you will spend more than three hours. But you won't be bored: the windows of the train offer a magnificent view of the mountains. So don't forget your camera! By the way, if you do not plan to spend the night in Aguas Calientes, then immediately purchase a return ticket, on the basis that you will spend no more than three hours in the city of the Incas. That will be enough.

Stage three: from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. There is a direct bus from the city. It's not far from here: about 25 minutes drive. A bus ticket is inexpensive: there and back - within $ 15.

Tickets to enter Machu Picchu cost $45 per person. But keep in mind that you can only pay in local currency. So get your money ready. Have a good trip and unforgettable impressions!