Situated on the high slopes of the Andes, the ancient yet famous ruins of Machu Picchu are continually revealing the wonders of the Inca Empire. This archaeological destination grabs the attention of travelers to Peru on an annual basis.
If you’re unfamiliar with the hidden wonders of Machu Picchu, we’re going to unveil them for you. So, continue to read on.
If you want to go on a luxury machu picchu tour, you must first know that a team of archaeologists claims that Machu Picchu was constructed as a royal family retreat. John Rowe, Richard Burger, and Lucy Salazar's research indicates that the Incan king Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, who is credited with building Machu Picchu, would have imagined the city as a tranquil retreat from Cuzco's congestion.
Essentially, Machu Picchu was a prehistoric retreat perched on a hill and a contender for the top spot on T + L's World's Best list in 1457.
Rather than its reputation, Machu Picchu wasn’t a hidden city to explore. It was a significant religious hub for the people of the Inca Empire. The majority of people traveled to Machu Picchu throughout its heyday.
The construction of the city was completed in the 15th century, per the order of the Inca Emperor Pachacuti. That’s why Machu Picchu was considered a monarch retreat and an epicenter of governance for the entire Inca empire.
In order to construct this exquisite city, the Incas were expert builders who used a variety of modern techniques. Among the inclusions of this cutting-edge technique, fitting the massive stone blocks together without the use of mortar is also what they employed during construction.
They cut down the stones with precision so that they fit together perfectly, allowing them to stand for hundreds of years without needing further support. They also constructed walls in a zigzag pattern using other advanced techniques to make them more durable against earthquakes and other incidents.
They build canals to divert water flow and avoid erosion. Hence, it would be right to say that they put their efforts into making this city stand for a long time and impress travelers consistently.
Since Hiram Bingham first arrived at Machu Picchu in 1911, sightseers have appreciated that the surrounding landscape of the ruins is just as significant to the location as the actual buildings.
One of the most venerated aspus in Inca cosmology, Mount Salcantay, is directly pointed due south through the renowned Intihuatana Stone by an arrow-shaped stone situated on the summit of Huayna Picchu. On crucial days in the Inca calendar, the sun seems to rise or set behind other notable peaks.
The city was abandoned right after the Spanish conquered the Inca Empire in the 16th century. Historians say the majority of people fled in order to avoid being taken by the conquistadors.
The Inca Empire was at its peak of power when the Spanish arrived, but the conquest was rapid and ruthless, and the empire was crushed within no time. Probably, the valuable residents of Machu Picchu fled the city to escape the violence and tumult of the conquest.
