Machu Picchu ruins history

Near the city of Cuzco-Peru, is the extraordinary historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu located 2,453 meters above sea level and surrounded by mountainous landscapes, being one of the 7 wonders of the world.

Machu Picchu was once an important palace and religious sanctuary for the Incas; now it is a powerful tourist attraction with its doors open to visitors.

The city of Machu Picchu is considered a masterpiece of engineering and architecture, with a rich history spanning more than seven centuries.

If you are planning to visit Peru, a stop in this beautiful earthly paradise is inevitable. Want to know the ruins of Machu Picchu history? Read on!

Machu Picchu history and origin

According to historical data, this city was built around the year 1450 by the order of Pachacutec.

The luxurious urban complex was built among the mountains, which makes it a space full of direct contact with nature. Previously, it was a sacred place for the Incas, since its climatic conditions and the geography of this area were ideal for agriculture.

In addition, the city of Machu Picchu was divided into two areas: the urban area where the houses and the religious precincts where the temple of the sun was located; and an agricultural area that had a terrace of crops.

Ruins of Machu Picchu

The lost city was found in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham when he made an expedition to Huayna Picchu, and since then he began to study the site in depth.

It can be said that the person who made the discovery of these ruins was not a professional archaeologist. However, he got the sponsorship of Yale University and National Geographic magazine for his research.

Temple of the Sun

The ruins of Machu Picchu, as detailed above, are divided by zones, and one of them is the urban area where the temple of the sun is located. Access to this is through an area that contains the remains of ancient security mechanisms.

This temple has a main building that is known as a tower, and was used for ceremonies related to the June solstice.

The temple is built on a large rock and underneath is a cave where the mummies are supposed to have existed.

Royal Residence

This is another of the constructions found inside the ruins of Machu Picchu history. It was elaborated with the purpose of being a not so common house.

The door that this residence has, gives access to the first source of the city and also to the Temple of the Sun.

When you visit it, you will discover that it has two luxurious rooms, a corral and private terraces.

Sacred Plaza

The Sacred Plaza is also located within the urban area of the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu. This place has some very curious evidence, since it was apparently used to practice different rituals.

These spaces have one of the largest buildings of these ruins, such as the Temple of the three windows. It is built with stone walls and the main temple was made with more regular blocks.

Intihuatana Pyramid

It is a hill where its flanks were converted into terraces, transforming this space into a large pyramid with a polygonal shape, and also includes two long stairways that are used as access roads.

At the top of these pyramids there is something very curious: they are elite constructions that contain intihuatana stones, one of the most studied objects of Machu Picchu. This pyramid is considered one of the most sacred of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu today

From the year 1981, the ruins of Machu Picchu history were called historical sanctuary of Peru, and is responsible for protecting the entire archaeological area that encompasses the flora and fauna of those who live there.

It is important to note that since 1983, this small piece of land was designated as Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In addition, since more recent times, approximately since 2007, it is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.

For this reason, every year there are approximately 1.5 million visits from local and foreign tourists who come to observe a unique place in the world.

Conclusion

Machu Picchu is a place full of curiosities, something that makes it majestic, magical and unique. Get ready to embark on your trip and get to know the ruins of Machu Picchu history, with several areas to explore with family or friends.

Visiting these ruins will take you some time, but it will also be worth it to get to know these sanctuaries closely and they will bring you a lot of surprises that will surprise and delight you. Go get them!

Book with us if you want a tour to Inca Trail or any destination in Peru, we are a travel agency with a lot of recognition in the city of Cusco.