MACHU PICCHU, CRYSTAL CITY
| SACRED JOURNEYS Andean Connection trips to the sacred places in the Andes |
MACHU PICCHU
Is one of the "Lost City of the Inkas," "City of Light for Initiates," An ancient site fed by grids of
powerful natural energies patterned by surrounding mountains and extensive underground
tunnels.
Shamanic belief is that for centuries this site served as an initiatory centre for higher learning.
The sanctuary cover many square kilometers constructed of mortared terraces and connected
by endless stairs carved from solid rock all around the mountains. Throughout the ages, the
sheltered temple sights, geophysically conducive atmospheres were used for ritual and mind-
altering experiences. Shamanic legend says that touching one's forehead to the Intiwantana
Stone opens one's vision into the Spirit World. Tune into Wakas (sacred spots) of individual
rocks and boulders. Experience here the classic "magical flight" of shamanic ecstasy.
History: Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, Machu Picchu was unknown to the
Christians. Its reason for existence remains under debate. Provably it was built and populated
by the family of one Inka ruler, Pachakkutek. Machu Picchu was a kind of university where the
children of the leaders of other Andean cultures conquered by the Inkas were taken to Machu
Picchu to be taught the Inka way of life. At any rate, as we wander through the maze of empty
plazas, chambers and dwellings saddled atop steep mountainsides, we will be unable to resist
our own speculations at the impenetrable mystery of these stones. Today it is a Historic National
Sanctuary, protected by the Peruvian Government, that tries to conserve the geological
formations and archaeological remains inside the Sanctuary, besides protecting its flora, fauna
and landscape's beauty. The whole park has an extension of 80,535 acres (32,592 hectares;
125.83 mile).
Locale and Climate: Machu Picchu (the Inkan City) is located on kilometer 112 (70 miles) of
the Cusco-Quillabamba railway; the train station is in Aguas Calientes village with an altitude of
2,000 meters (6,560 feet). From that station there are buses in order to get to South-America's
most famous Archaeological Group that is found at an average altitude of 2,450 meters (8,038
feet). The climate in that sector has also some characteristics that are found all over the region;
thus, only two well defined seasons are distinguished: the rainy season in the area goes
between November to April, and the dry season from May to October. Machu Picchu is near the
commencement of the Cusquenian Amazonian Jungle, so the chance of having rains or showers
is possible any time of the year. In the hottest days it is possible to get even about 26° Celsius
(78.8° Fahrenheit), while that in the coldest early mornings in June and July the temperature
may drop to 8° C.; the average annual temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. Between May to
August the weather is beautiful because the skys are nearly always blue and clear.
Geology: The Machu Picchu Historic National Sanctuary is found over a great granite orogenic
structure baptized by Dr. Isaiah Bowman as the "Vilcabamba Batholith" that outcrops over about
400 km (154 mile). Its formation belongs in the scale of geological time to the Paleozoic or
Inferior Primary and may have an approximate age of 250 million years.
Origin of Name: Machu Picchu (like most of the Quechua names of towns and different sites in
the region) is a compound word that comes from machu = old or ancient, and picchu = peak or
mountain; therefore, Machu Picchu is translated as "Old Mountain". The famous mountain that
is seen in front, and appears in most of the classical views of the site is named Wayna Picchu
(Young Mountain). Unfortunately the original names of the mentioned sectors are lost, Machu
Picchu, Wayna Picchu and some other proper names used today are contemporary ones;
ascribed probably by farmers living in the region before Bingham's arrival. However, according
to studies about some XVI century documents, the original name of the whole area might be
"Picchu".
It is known that Hiram Bingham, a descendant of missionaries, was the man who rediscover
Machu Picchu for the contemporary world and modern science. He was a North-American
historian born in Honolulu, Hawaii; who in 1907 taught the South-American History and
Geography course in Yale University. Later he was chosen as delegate of his country to the
First Pan-American Scientific Congress carried out in Chile in 1908. By that epoch he began his
activities as explorer taking a horseback journey from Caracas to Bogota, following the Simon
Bolivar's way. Then he followed the old colonial trade way from Buenos Aires to Lima, arriving to
this Andean zone in 1909; it is in that year when from Abancay he started with his first
exploration towards Choquekirau, trying to find the last Inkan Capital. By that time many myths
had been created about the possibility of finding the "Inkas' treasures" that according to
tradition had been taken by Manko Inka is his retreat to Willkapampa (willka = sacred, pampa =
plain; its Spanish form is "Vilcabamba"); thus it was so common by that epoch to find treasure
hunters willing to get to this last Inkas' dwelling. That same intention moved Bingham to study
chronicles and even to visit Spanish archives, and subsequently in 1911 to come back to Peru
with the aim of performing studies of geology and botany, and for sure, also in order to try
finding Willkapampa.
In Cusco, Albert Giesecke, a compatriot of his and rector of the local University had put him in
touch with Braulio Polo y la Borda, owner of Mandor. That local landlord told Bingham that on
the hill in front of his property there were ancient constructions covered by vegetation where
cattle were frequently lost; and moreover, he introduced Bingham to Eduardo Lizarraga, a
farmland renter living in the area since the 70s of the 19th century, who had seen the buildings.
On July 23th, 1911 Bingham showed up in Mandor along with a policeman, Sergeant Carrasco,
who escorted him by order of Cusco's Prefect Juan Jose Nuñez. They found in his hut the
peasant Melchor Arteaga who told Bingham about the existence of two Inkan sites named
Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu; that same peasant was hired by Bingham to be the guide in
order to get to the Inkan City. The next day, after examining the field they decided to climb up.
After noon they arrived at another hut where they found Anacleto Alvarez and Toribio Recharte;
they were two humble peasants who along with their families lived in the area and cultivated the
pre-Hispanic farming terraces. After a short break, they provided a boy as the guide for
Bingham in order to have a first look of the Inkan buildings that were completely covered with
entangled vegetation. That was how Bingham, at 35 years old, stumbled onto Machu Picchu; a
fortuitous happening that made manifest a great "discovery".
Almost immediately after his first exploration, he went back to the USA looking for economic
support that was granted to him by the Yale University and the National Geographic Society.
Subsequently, the Peruvian government in Lima facing Bingham's request in order to execute
works in Machu Picchu, by means of law given on October 31th, 1912, authorized him to carry
out his projected works. Besides, according to the fourth article of that authorization Bingham
could freely take out of the country all the obtained pieces during his explorations, but with
commitment of giving them back to Peru's simple petition. Authorization in the name of
"international etiquette" that infringed some legal rules and caused irreparable damage to
Peru's cultural heritage.
Inka Trail to Machu Picchu
It was part of the Inka highway system (Qhapaq Ñan) and is one of the most important South
American trekking routes. Along the hike, you can see several gorges and streams that
originate from glaciers. There are a few archaeological monuments along the trail, such as
Qoriwayrachina, Llaqtapata, Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka, Intipata, Wiñay
Wayna and Intipunku. The starting point of the trip varies according to the trail you wish to take.
The most popular route starts around kilometer marker 82 (Piskakucho) of the railroad Cusco –
Machu Picchu (40 km / 25 miles from the city itself). Another possibility, shorter in time, is called
the Sacred Trail, and begins at kilometer marker 104 (Chachabamba) of the railroad.
Is one of the "Lost City of the Inkas," "City of Light for Initiates," An ancient site fed by grids of
powerful natural energies patterned by surrounding mountains and extensive underground
tunnels.
Shamanic belief is that for centuries this site served as an initiatory centre for higher learning.
The sanctuary cover many square kilometers constructed of mortared terraces and connected
by endless stairs carved from solid rock all around the mountains. Throughout the ages, the
sheltered temple sights, geophysically conducive atmospheres were used for ritual and mind-
altering experiences. Shamanic legend says that touching one's forehead to the Intiwantana
Stone opens one's vision into the Spirit World. Tune into Wakas (sacred spots) of individual
rocks and boulders. Experience here the classic "magical flight" of shamanic ecstasy.
History: Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, Machu Picchu was unknown to the
Christians. Its reason for existence remains under debate. Provably it was built and populated
by the family of one Inka ruler, Pachakkutek. Machu Picchu was a kind of university where the
children of the leaders of other Andean cultures conquered by the Inkas were taken to Machu
Picchu to be taught the Inka way of life. At any rate, as we wander through the maze of empty
plazas, chambers and dwellings saddled atop steep mountainsides, we will be unable to resist
our own speculations at the impenetrable mystery of these stones. Today it is a Historic National
Sanctuary, protected by the Peruvian Government, that tries to conserve the geological
formations and archaeological remains inside the Sanctuary, besides protecting its flora, fauna
and landscape's beauty. The whole park has an extension of 80,535 acres (32,592 hectares;
125.83 mile).
Locale and Climate: Machu Picchu (the Inkan City) is located on kilometer 112 (70 miles) of
the Cusco-Quillabamba railway; the train station is in Aguas Calientes village with an altitude of
2,000 meters (6,560 feet). From that station there are buses in order to get to South-America's
most famous Archaeological Group that is found at an average altitude of 2,450 meters (8,038
feet). The climate in that sector has also some characteristics that are found all over the region;
thus, only two well defined seasons are distinguished: the rainy season in the area goes
between November to April, and the dry season from May to October. Machu Picchu is near the
commencement of the Cusquenian Amazonian Jungle, so the chance of having rains or showers
is possible any time of the year. In the hottest days it is possible to get even about 26° Celsius
(78.8° Fahrenheit), while that in the coldest early mornings in June and July the temperature
may drop to 8° C.; the average annual temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. Between May to
August the weather is beautiful because the skys are nearly always blue and clear.
Geology: The Machu Picchu Historic National Sanctuary is found over a great granite orogenic
structure baptized by Dr. Isaiah Bowman as the "Vilcabamba Batholith" that outcrops over about
400 km (154 mile). Its formation belongs in the scale of geological time to the Paleozoic or
Inferior Primary and may have an approximate age of 250 million years.
Origin of Name: Machu Picchu (like most of the Quechua names of towns and different sites in
the region) is a compound word that comes from machu = old or ancient, and picchu = peak or
mountain; therefore, Machu Picchu is translated as "Old Mountain". The famous mountain that
is seen in front, and appears in most of the classical views of the site is named Wayna Picchu
(Young Mountain). Unfortunately the original names of the mentioned sectors are lost, Machu
Picchu, Wayna Picchu and some other proper names used today are contemporary ones;
ascribed probably by farmers living in the region before Bingham's arrival. However, according
to studies about some XVI century documents, the original name of the whole area might be
"Picchu".
It is known that Hiram Bingham, a descendant of missionaries, was the man who rediscover
Machu Picchu for the contemporary world and modern science. He was a North-American
historian born in Honolulu, Hawaii; who in 1907 taught the South-American History and
Geography course in Yale University. Later he was chosen as delegate of his country to the
First Pan-American Scientific Congress carried out in Chile in 1908. By that epoch he began his
activities as explorer taking a horseback journey from Caracas to Bogota, following the Simon
Bolivar's way. Then he followed the old colonial trade way from Buenos Aires to Lima, arriving to
this Andean zone in 1909; it is in that year when from Abancay he started with his first
exploration towards Choquekirau, trying to find the last Inkan Capital. By that time many myths
had been created about the possibility of finding the "Inkas' treasures" that according to
tradition had been taken by Manko Inka is his retreat to Willkapampa (willka = sacred, pampa =
plain; its Spanish form is "Vilcabamba"); thus it was so common by that epoch to find treasure
hunters willing to get to this last Inkas' dwelling. That same intention moved Bingham to study
chronicles and even to visit Spanish archives, and subsequently in 1911 to come back to Peru
with the aim of performing studies of geology and botany, and for sure, also in order to try
finding Willkapampa.
In Cusco, Albert Giesecke, a compatriot of his and rector of the local University had put him in
touch with Braulio Polo y la Borda, owner of Mandor. That local landlord told Bingham that on
the hill in front of his property there were ancient constructions covered by vegetation where
cattle were frequently lost; and moreover, he introduced Bingham to Eduardo Lizarraga, a
farmland renter living in the area since the 70s of the 19th century, who had seen the buildings.
On July 23th, 1911 Bingham showed up in Mandor along with a policeman, Sergeant Carrasco,
who escorted him by order of Cusco's Prefect Juan Jose Nuñez. They found in his hut the
peasant Melchor Arteaga who told Bingham about the existence of two Inkan sites named
Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu; that same peasant was hired by Bingham to be the guide in
order to get to the Inkan City. The next day, after examining the field they decided to climb up.
After noon they arrived at another hut where they found Anacleto Alvarez and Toribio Recharte;
they were two humble peasants who along with their families lived in the area and cultivated the
pre-Hispanic farming terraces. After a short break, they provided a boy as the guide for
Bingham in order to have a first look of the Inkan buildings that were completely covered with
entangled vegetation. That was how Bingham, at 35 years old, stumbled onto Machu Picchu; a
fortuitous happening that made manifest a great "discovery".
Almost immediately after his first exploration, he went back to the USA looking for economic
support that was granted to him by the Yale University and the National Geographic Society.
Subsequently, the Peruvian government in Lima facing Bingham's request in order to execute
works in Machu Picchu, by means of law given on October 31th, 1912, authorized him to carry
out his projected works. Besides, according to the fourth article of that authorization Bingham
could freely take out of the country all the obtained pieces during his explorations, but with
commitment of giving them back to Peru's simple petition. Authorization in the name of
"international etiquette" that infringed some legal rules and caused irreparable damage to
Peru's cultural heritage.
Inka Trail to Machu Picchu
It was part of the Inka highway system (Qhapaq Ñan) and is one of the most important South
American trekking routes. Along the hike, you can see several gorges and streams that
originate from glaciers. There are a few archaeological monuments along the trail, such as
Qoriwayrachina, Llaqtapata, Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka, Intipata, Wiñay
Wayna and Intipunku. The starting point of the trip varies according to the trail you wish to take.
The most popular route starts around kilometer marker 82 (Piskakucho) of the railroad Cusco –
Machu Picchu (40 km / 25 miles from the city itself). Another possibility, shorter in time, is called
the Sacred Trail, and begins at kilometer marker 104 (Chachabamba) of the railroad.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| AMEA * Andean Writers - Escritores Andinos * AMEA |
| CONTACT: Phones: 0051/84-984.761.007 0051/84-984.760.187 0051/84-984.741.220 |