The walls of Machu Picchu tell the secrets of century-old Inca civilization. World’s one of the 7 wonders Machu Picchu Peru was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Explorer and Yale University professor Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu in 1911. Machu Pichhu facts have been creating a stir among the travelers since then.
Underneath the layers of history, this place has some unrevealed stories. This blog aims to be the curtain-raiser and take one on tour to Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu Architecture:
Machu Picchu facts about architecture have always been the talking points among travelers. The citadel of the 15th century Inca civilization is known for beautiful walls and fine civil engineering. According to engineer Kenneth Wright, around 60% of Machu Pichhu has been done underground. With heavy rainfall in mind, the underground construction comprises deep building foundations and crushed rock drainage. Moreover, this magnificent site was sculpted out of a notch between two peaks.
Machu Picchu’s altitude is 2430 meters above sea level. How did the creators make a relatively flat space by moving stones and earth? Well, that still remains a mystery.
The Museum, Hidden Machu Picchu Facts Everyone Should Know:
One cannot uncover the facts about Machu Picchu just by visiting it. It is not like any regular national park with explanatory signs here and there. Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón imparts a great lesson about how and why Machu Picchu was built. The displays in English and Spanish further tell why the Inca chose a unique natural location for the citadel.
How to find the museum? It is located at the end of a dirt road near the base of Machu Picchu. Travelers need to walk for around 30 minutes from the town of Aguas Calientes to visit this museum.
A Secret Temple for the Curious Minds:
Anyone who is visiting Huayna Picchu should follow the trail to the Temple of the Moon. One can see a ceremonial shrine there built inside a cave. The cave is further adorned with aesthetic stonework and niches for holding mummies. This is one of the rarely known Machu Picchu facts.
The End of a Pilgrimage:
The theory of Italian archaeoastronomer Giulio Magli is doing the rounds these days. The theory suggests that Machu Picchu might have a ceremonial purpose. It talks about the celestial journey which the first Inca took after leaving the Island of the Sun in Lake Titicaca.
The Inca refused to take the route along the Urubamba river banks and built the Inca Trail. According to Magli, this stunning trail was for preparing the pilgrims for entry to Machu Picchu. Finally, the journey would have come to an end with the visit to Inhuatana Stone, the highest spot in the main ruins.
The Machu Picchu facts are still not revealed completely. One who is wandering away from the central ruin will find various side paths. The thick foliage further creates a sense of mystery around this magical site. Besides, there is a possibility of unknown trails and ruins being present in some untrodden locations. The discovery of some refurbished sets of terraces in 2011 has further added to its attractions.