Machu Picchu

Source: FP

Context: Peru evacuated 1,600 tourists from Machu Picchu after protests blocked train access, demanding inclusion in the bidding process for a new bus operator.

About Machu Picchu:

What It Is?

• A 15th-century Inca citadel and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983) and Peru’s most iconic tourist destination, attracting ~4,500 visitors daily.

• Known for its remarkable preservation and engineering brilliance, combining ceremonial, residential, and agricultural areas.

Location:

• Situated ~80 km northwest of Cusco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, Andes Mountains.

• Perched at 2,350 m (7,710 ft) above sea level, overlooking the Urubamba River Valley.

• Lies between two peaks – Machu Picchu (“Old Peak”) and Huayna Picchu (“New Peak”).

Origin & History:

• Built during reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (c. 1438–1471) as a royal estate or retreat.

• Abandoned in the mid-16th century, likely due to Spanish conquest and lack of water.

• Rediscovered in 1911 by Yale professor Hiram Bingham, guided by local Melchor Arteaga.

Key Features:

• Urban Layout: Divided into ceremonial, agricultural, and residential sectors connected by thousands of stone-cut steps.

• Agricultural Terraces: Ingenious aqueduct system for irrigation.

• Notable Structures: Temple of the Sun – Sacred ceremonial site. Temple of the Three Windows – Features trapezoidal Inca architecture. Intihuatana Stone – A carved ceremonial sundial. Royal Tombs & Palaces – Indicate its use as a royal estate.

• Temple of the Sun – Sacred ceremonial site.

• Temple of the Three Windows – Features trapezoidal Inca architecture.

• Intihuatana Stone – A carved ceremonial sundial.

• Royal Tombs & Palaces – Indicate its use as a royal estate.

• Access: By train to Aguas Calientes + bus ride or hiking the Inca Trail (3–6 days).

Significance:

• Cultural Heritage: Symbol of Inca civilisation’s architectural and engineering mastery.

• Tourism: Peru’s most economically vital tourist site; generates major foreign exchange.