The History of Machu Picchu :
Once upon a time in Peru, South America, in the 15th century, a beautiful 32,592 hectares estate was constructed in the Andes mountains. It was amidst two mountain peaks and built for Pachacuti, an Incan Emperor. This place was called Machu Picchu, meaning Old Peak in the Incan language.
4 Interesting Facts about Machu Picchu :
- It has 200 buildings.
- The Inti Wantana stone tipping towards the sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Temple of the Sun, form the religious tip of Machu Picchu.
- Intihuatana, a pyramid for Incans to speak to Gods and Inti Mach’ay, a cave that hosted lavish celebrations for the winter solstice, are also part of the Lost City of the Incas. Fountains and aqueducts provided water.
- The slopes allowed for farming. However, an epidemic of small pox might have broken out and Machu Picchu was abandoned.
The Discovery of Machu Picchu :
After 339 long years came Hiram Bingham, a historian from Yale. He uncovered one of our newest seven wonders of the world on 24th July, 1911. He unearthed 40,000 artifacts like mummies, silver artifacts, and ceramics and brought them back to Yale to study.
Hush..Machu Picchu Secrets :
- There are no written records about this lost empire, which cannot be seen from the foot of the mountains. However, we know that the stones were intricately carved and they seem to dance when earthquakes occur but never budge from their historical stand.
- The stones are cut so exactly that they fit together without any mortar and one cannot even let a blade of grass pass through them. The round corners of the windows and doors allow it to withstand earthquakes. How did so much brilliant construction occur without any horses, iron or wheels? How were grand staircases carved from single slabs of rocks?
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