Travelers in Peru

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Machu Picchu: Description and History

Machu Picchu

Description

Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the modern world, is one of the archaeological sites that attract much interest around the world, is without doubt the greatest example of the work and dedication of the Andean people. Surrounded by a great forest and towering mountains, mystery and enigma that captures the fortress on the visitors causes different feelings and emotions that go beyond mere admiration.

View of Machu Picchu from the house of the Guardian.

There are many theories to explain what was Machu Picchu, one of them is one that suggests it was a place where they were holding Ñustas or Virgins of the Sun, so that was one reason to be a secret place, this theory still holds because when the Spanish arrived, the Inca government, in order to prevent crime, hid these virgins in a secret location in the Andes, this place was the citadel of Machu Picchu, this theory also explains the discovery of 107 bodies and 68.9% of these were female.
Location: The archaeological site is located on the left side Vilcanota River, in the throat of Kusichaca, in the district of Machu Picchu, the province of Urubamba, department of Cusco.
Altitude is 2490 meters above the sea.
Temperature: It is situated in a subtropical area, the temperature rises from 8 º to 22 º C.
Distance: 112 km from the city of Cusco.
Tickets: The cost of entry to the citadel of Machu Picchu is $ 45 for foreign tourists and S/. 64 and S/. 32 for Peruvian tourists (adults and students respectively).

View of Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu.

How to get to Machu Picchu

There are several known ways to reach Machu Picchu. The first is the traditional - Train can be taken from the city of Cusco, the route to the Inca city is three hours. Take the train that leads directly to the town of Aguas Calientes, have different schedules from 6:00 am to 7:00 am, and from there go up a certain section in 20 minutes by bus or walking down a path well signposted for 1 ½ hours.

Another option for those who like adventure travel to visit Machu Picchu is to make the Inca Trail, following the route of 40 km. the way that the Incas made and used to communicate in this area, walking for 3 or 4 days and requires a great effort, visiting beautiful places in the Andes and the jungle. It starts at Km 88 of the railway to the Valley of the Convention, at a place called Q'oriwayrachina.

There are two other options for getting to Machu Picchu: walking along the railroad from Cuzco or combining a bus or truck route and even walk through the town of Santa Maria to Aguas Calientes.

On how to get to Machu Picchu expand in more detail in another post.

The fastest way to get to Cusco: by train

The other way is also more familiar: the Inca Trail or Inka Trail.

You can also walk to Machu Picchu along the railroad

tracks between 09 to 11 hours.

The route through Santa Teresa implies that even
will have to pull a hanging basket and cross the river
Vilcanota pure pulse. A cheap route
but only for those who like adventure total.

History of Machu Picchu

Around 1440 the Inca Pachacutec (the one that dominates everything) conquest reaches the creek Picchu during his campaign to Vilcabamba, the site had peculiar geographical features, being impressed with the Inca had ordered to be built there, to a complex urban buildings of civil and religious luxury.

Is 13 º 9 '47" south latitude and 72 º 32' 44" west longitude. District is part of the same name. Machu Picchu would have been one of the residences rest of Pachacutec (1438-1470). However, some of its finest buildings and ceremonial evident demonstrate that it was used as a religious shrine. Also true that recent studies based on archival documents of the sixteenth century have provided good and new arguments to determine that the citadel of Machu Picchu was, like the pyramids of the pharaohs of Egypt or the tomb of Chinese Emperor Shi Huang Chi , a luxurious and well cared for mausoleum to receive the remains of King Pachacutec.

During the Spanish occupation is estimated that the main noble Picchu then have left the city Manco Inca leader of the resistance in 1536 summoned the nobles from nearby regions to join his court in exile of Vilcabamba. According to documents suggest that the region would have remained inhabited Picchu since it was considered a tributary population in the Spanish encomienda of Ollantaytambo.

After the fall of the kingdom of Vilcabamba in 1572 and the consolidation of Spanish power in the Central Andes, Machu Picchu remained within the jurisdiction of different colonial estates changed hands several times until the time Republicans. However, it had become a remote location, away from the new roads and economic centers of Peru. The region was largely ignored by the colonial regime (not ordered the building of Christian churches or administer any town in the area), but not by the Andean people.

Nearly three centuries after the Italian naturalist Antonio Raimondi reach Machu Picchu without knowing it and says it was then sparsely populated region. But everything indicates that it is in those years when the area began to receive visits by interests other than the purely scientific.

Agustín Lizárraga, a tenant of land Cusco, arrived at the site on July 14, 1902 guiding the Cusco also Gabino Sánchez, and Justo Enrique Ochoa Palma graffiti they left their names in one of the walls of the Temple of Three Windows that was later verified by several people and there are reports suggesting that Lizarraga had visited Machu Picchu in the company of Luis Bejar in 1894. Lizárraga constructs showed them the "visitors", although the nature of operations has so far been investigated.

Hiram Bingham

Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu arrives June 24, 1911, although not the only precursor of the discovery, undoubtedly had the merit of being the first person to recognize the importance of the ruins, studying with a multidisciplinary team and disseminating their findings.

Today Machu Picchu is one of the great wonders of the world, since 1983 a member in the World Heritage List since 1981 and is an ecological protection zone, but still the Peruvian authorities have to contend with the latent problems in the area such as forest fires, conservation of endangered species and constant maintenance of the ruins.

In 2007, the government of Peru declared on 7 July as the "Day of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu New Wonder of the World" since the July 7, 2007 Machu Picchu was named one of the winners in the list of Wonders of the World.

Sources:

http://www.perucontact.com/
http://www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com/cusco.html
http://eldiwan2010.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html
http://www.covitour.com.pe/
http://www.grupoavych.com/cusco
http://imagenes.viajeros.com/fotos
http://wiki.sumaqperu.com/es/Qenko
http://www.delange.org/Quenko/Quenko.htm
http://images.travelpod.com/
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://www.moon.com/files/map-images/
http://www.aatccusco.com/mapas_y_planos.php
http://cuscotravelinfo.wordpress.com/
http://www.cusco-peru.org/
http://www.cuscoonline.com/
http://www.pasaporteblog.com/
http://cuzco-peru.travel/
http://perudanzas.espacioblog.com/
http://www.aboutcusco.com/
http://www.livinginperu.com/blogs/travel/1484
http://skyscraperperu.com/
http://arquitecturaytecnologia2007.blogspot.com/
http://peruahora.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/breve-resena-de-machu-picchu/
http://www.amautacunadehistoria.com/2008/12/machu-picchu-en-new-york-times.html
http://www.labyrinthina.com/hb2.jpg
http://lastdaysoftheincas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/machu-picchu-overhead-by-bingham-overgrown-1912-copy.jpg

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Saturday, April 2, 2011

Other attractions Sightseeing in Cusco Department

Choquequirao: Gold Mine

Location

It is located 3033 meters above sea level in the foothills of Mount Salkantay, north of the Apurimac River valley, in the province of the Convention in the department of Cusco.

Choquequirao environment is one of the richest in biodiversity. All these species have been built despite variations in temperature as the sun throughout the day and freezing at night inclement. The fauna consists mainly of condors, tarucas, viscacha, foxes, skunks, mountain lions, hummingbirds, bears, and the cock of the rocks, the national bird of Peru. In its flora include the giant ferns, the bunch grass and a variety of orchids, which highlights the variety wakanki.

Access Forms

Currently the land is the only way to reach the citadel of Choquequirao. The most popular route is to take the highway to Abancay and km. 154 choose the turning that leads to Cachora from there should make an uphill climb of about 30 km, where the route reaches two days. Also be accessed by other neighboring towns, however, the route may be more rugged.

History

It was a cultural and religious center for the region. Presumably this citadel was used as a checkpoint to ensure access to areas of Vilcabamba, the jungle connecting with other important centers like Pisac and Machu Picchu. It is also estimated that the citadel played an important role in serving as a bridge between the Amazon and imperial city of Cusco.

Choquequirao is considered one of the last bastions of resistance and refuge of the Incas, who by order of Manco Inca, left the city of Cusco for shelter in the cities of Vilcabamba region, around the year 1535 when Cusco was besieged by the Spanish . It was here (and in general throughout the valley of Vilcabamba) where Manco Inca Vilcabamba others resisted the onslaught of the Spanish, until the capture and execution of Tupac Amaru I in 1572.
Description of Choquequirao

Choquequirao complex consists of nine sectors, most notably the political and religious center, the source system of aqueducts and canals, and the group covers.

Topography

From an aerial view or at a distance, it is easy to distinguish typical Inca terraces that make up the largest buildings of Choquequirao. A Temple, some administrative buildings, rooms for managers and senior advisors who were located around the central square.

Towards the outskirts of the center of the citadel include rooms used for the rest of the population, which are grouped forming a small village. In Choquequiero numerous irrigation channels and aqueducts for potable water supply. Despite the time and the weather, most of the buildings of the "sacred sister" of Machu Picchu are well preserved, and its restoration will last, according to some scholars who are in charge, even several years.

Strategic Position

Andean perspective is undoubtedly strategic location, which allowed him to cover this unique settlement and have a stranglehold on what could be considered one of the most extraordinary journeys in the country altitude.

In turn, from the air to the researchers, who have appreciated, say Choquequirao is shown as a great book, with the mighty Apurimac river at his feet and a large mountain that plunges into the eastern slopes covered by an immense tropical vegetation, being another example of the Andean attempt to dominate the world from above.

Weather

The weather at the Shrine of Choquequirao is mild, because of his height, but rather must be emphasized that the road or path that leads to Choquequirao is hot because of the Apurimac canyon.

Architecture

Even if only 30 percent from 1.810 hectares of the complex have been rescued, we may assume that Choquequirao was more than a fortress, a religious site. For its location is likely to have been the most important religious center and was occupied by priests and those consecrated to the gods. It has been found paintings and cemeteries that would confirm this theory. Choquequirao is arranged in nine areas and small villages built around a large plaza where all the roads from each area. It has been able to locate the upper plaza (Hanan), deposits (Qolqa), the main square (Huaqaypata), the lower square (Hurin), the system of cultivation terraces immediately to the main square (Chaqra Anden), the ceremonial platform (Ushno) and housing for the priests in the bottom of the hill .. Therefore it is assumed that Choquequirao was a great political and economic center, which served as cultural and commercial enclave between the sea, mountains and jungle.

Choquequirao has many two-story buildings with niches inside. In addition to some doors and niches made with adobe jamb and irrigation canals. The material was quarried stones are used clay mortar. There are 22 recordings in these stones with figures known as "Flames of the Sun" ready in 15 to address the snowy sidewalks Quory Hauyrachina Choquequirao has a great set of platforms, a feature of the Incan villages, helping with the agricultural use of the slopes of the hills, and now, in view of the visitors seem carpeted floors by the vegetation of the area. According to archaeologist Luis Guillermo Lumbreras, Choquequirao gives the impression of having been a growing urban center, part of a larger project that much more remained incomplete.

Hike Choquequirao

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Four Lakes

Located 114 kilometers from Cusco, in the province of Acomayo. The four lakes are located in the upper river Vilcanota. The names of the gaps are: Pomacanchi, Acopia, Asnaqocha (lagoon odor), and lagoon Pampamarca. The sport fishing is carried out especially in the latter.

Queshuachaca Suspension Bridge

Located 143 kilometers from Cusco, in the province of Canas. One of the most important characteristics is that every three days every second Sunday of June, the bridge is woven by hand. About 1000 community members engaged in this task by using woven straw. This work will run from before the time of the Incas. The bridge ends on the fourth day, giving way to the singing and dancing. From this bridge you can see the canyon of the Apurimac River.

Paucartambo

A 110 km of Cusco is Paucartambo, the "World Summit", a town on the access to one of the last remaining wildernesses on the planet's biosphere reserve of the Manu National Park, a place that visitors come worldwide. Paucartambo also called "land of the east" and not for less, because in its territory there are many attractions, among which are:

Tres Cruces de Oro

Located 145 kilometers from Cusco. This town is a natural lookout on the edge of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. In this place the natural phenomenon "white lightning"when the sun rises in the skyline. This peculiar wobble of sunlight takes place at dawn on winter solstice, June 22. Situated at an altitude of 3,739 m and 35 km from the city of Paucartambo. In the months of May, June and July the sun king to his departure from East presents a spectacle of nature with a variety of colors, shapes and shades, all this show is appreciated from the balcony Acjanaco natural.

Looking point of Tres Cruces

Archaeological Ensemble of Watoqto

Solid Inka architectural monument, located at km 100 on the road Cusco - Paucartambo, 12 km of diversion and 2.930 m, the set is accessed by a double door jamb, on the site are appreciated builds a great Temple of rectangular shape with trapezoidal niches, also you can see another building "qosqo" circular and other facilities, on the hill adjacent to another archaeological site identified the two areas are completely fenced, the, walls of buildings are slightly. indinados, also the material used is slate gray. The complex is strategically located to Mapacho River basin.

Ninamarca Chullpas

Situated at an altitude of 57km 3.000msnm to the city of Cusco, the archaeological complex consists of 17 chullpas 2.5 to one meter in height and a diameter of 0.80 to 1.60 was used in building stone with clay mortar, the present chullpas roof overhangs to like aisles.

Paucartambo dances

In Paucartambo was celebrated traditional festivities of the Virgen del Carmen. Paucartambo be characterized as folk province of Cusco and Peru. Between 15 and return July 18 to celebrate the festivities of the Virgen del Carmen, religious festival has its roots in the colonial era, in which the waste of colorful dances and processions give a hint of the extraordinary major manifestations of faith in Peru.

The origins of the consecration of the feast of the Virgen del Carmen is known for the oral tradition of the colonial and republican. The cult of the Virgen del Carmen began in the seventeenth century, when people "Qollas" the highlands arrived driving their herds of llamas, and Kcosóipata Paucartambo through with late trading of its products. In one of these many trips to the amazement of migrants and natives, there is the miraculous appearance of the face in relief of the Virgin, in a clay pot. This finding was collected to perpetuate the complete picture, which was sculpted by artists Paucartambo, also built a temple where they worshiped with prayers and chants.

Other attractions Sightseeing in Cusco Department

Choquequirao: Gold Mine

Machu Picchu: Description and History
Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the modern world, is one of the archaeological sites that attract much interest around the world, is without doubt the greatest example of the work and dedication of the Andean people. Surrounded by a great forest and towering mountains, mystery... Read more

Getting to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail (1)

Getting to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail (2)
Entry Costs

The prices seen below are only the ticket price for entry to the Inca Trail route, does not include other ... Read more

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