As the Urubamba River thunders violently below, a majestic, serene, and almost haunting image emerges from the dense early morning mist. It is one of the most recognized and revered structures in the world – one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, in fact. Its unrelenting lure pulls thousands of visitors from around the globe with its magically magnetic force. It is the gateway between the Andes and the Amazon; a city shrouded by clouds.
But on this peaceful, cool morning, it towers triumphantly above the cloud forests that envelope the surrounding peaks, seemingly impervious to the throngs of visitors who will breach its threshold in only a few hours.
It is the jewel of a continent, the symbol of a nation, and the pride of a people: it is the once-forgotten Inca city of Machu Picchu, and it was our turn to have a look around.
A Brief History of Machu Picchu
One hundred years ago, on July 24, 1911, Yale University historian and explorer, Hiram Bingham, led an expedition in search of the lost city of the Incas. Although he did not succeed in finding the lost city he initially sought (which today we believe was Espiritu Pampa, or Vilcabamba), he was led by a local boy up the steep granite slopes of the Andes to another lost city, an equally awe-inspiring site, the forgotten city of Machu Picchu.
Today Bingham is credited with “re-discovering” Machu Picchu, though there were local families living near the ruins at the time of his arrival. And despite the controversy surrounding his work, his discovery served the very important purpose of revealing the grandeur of Machu Picchu to the outside world, paving the way for millions of explorers, adventurers, and travelers to experience this inspiring site for the past one hundred years.
When Bingham arrived, the ruins were overgrown and unkempt, making the site difficult to map. Fortunately, the city does not appear to have ever been found or plundered by the Spaniards, so it remained remarkably in-tact, save the effects of time. The route Bingham took to arrive at Machu Picchu followed centuries-old Inca roads, and is today known as the Inca Trail, a rite of passage for hikers worldwide.
Machu Picchu, which means “Old Peak” in Quechua, the language spoken by the Incas, is believed to have been constructed toward the second half of the 15th Century. For the Incas, its position served a valuable strategic role linking their Andean and Amazonian settlements.
Despite a century of archaeological excavation and exploration, much of Machu Picchu’s significance remains a mystery, though its importance to the Inca Empire is evident.
Its mountaintop location with terraces draping the steep granite cliffs is deliberate. It sits between two mountain summits – those of Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu. The location was selected because of its astrological significance, as it was constructed in alignment with the surrounding mountains and the constellations. The east-west construction makes it possible for the rooms to receive the maximum amount of sunlight, while retaining the maximum amount of heat for the cool Andean nights. The Incas regarded the sun, Inti, as the ultimate source of power and life. The plethora of granite in the area provided an abundance of building material for the site.
Archeologists estimate that approximately 1,000 people inhabited the city and have deduced that the city was divided into sections for agriculture, worship, and construction. Specifically, the city is divided into two regions: agricultural and urban – one for planting, the other for living. Although its exact political significance is unknown, it is believed that Machu Picchu served an important administrative function linking the Andes and Amazon regions of the Inca Empire.
Despite the mysteries that remain regarding Machu Picchu, its re-discovery 100 years ago has led to breakthroughs in understanding the traditions, beliefs, and engineering feats of the Inca people. The worldwide fascination with this awe-inspiring structure continues to grow with each passing year.
Check back on Thursday to find out how you can plan your own visit to Machu Picchu– even if you don’t have a lot of vacation time to spare!
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