Machu Picchu, better tourist destination
15 May 2013
Machu Picchu was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Snuggled in the arms of Andes Mountains and more than 7,000 feet above sea level, it is one of the most visited destinations in the world.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. One of the most interesting places to visit in Machu Picchu is the ‘Temple of the Sun’, made of solid rock. It is believed that the residents of Machu Picchu died within 100 years of its establishments. Machu Picchu was also included by the World Monuments Fund on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. We bring to you some very interesting facts about it. Read on to find out more.
- Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu is the most known symbol of the Inca Empire.
- Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders Of The World.The site was built around 1460 but abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers after a century.
- In 1911, some people were found living on the site and a number of female mummies were also discovered.
- Most of the cities of the Inca civilization were destroyed by the Spaniards, however, Machu Picchu remained a hidden location and an invisible site from the ground below, making it one of the last few, well-preserved Inca cities.
- It is believed that the Incas were some of the best masons in the world. Legend has it, that when an Inca placed two stones together, no one would have even been able to place a knife between the stones. Such was their precision and accuracy.
- Machu Picchu comprises of around 140 structures
- Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows.
- An area of 325.92 square kilometers around Machu Picchu was declared a 'Historical Sanctuary' of Peru in 1981.