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Machu Pichu

There are only a few places which are a thrill to your senses! Machu Picchu in Peru is certainly one of them. This breathtaking Inca city was built atop the Andes Mountains in Peru. Millions of visitors flock every year to Peru only to visit Machu Picchu. It has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site and is now included in the 7 wonders of the world. It is considered to be the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire and a gift of nature. The mysterious nature that Machu Picchu has attracts millions of researchers and tourists alike to this place!

Let’s explore this marvel in today’s blog starting with few interesting facts about this structure in this video –

History:

​Machu Picchu was discovered by American Historian Hiram Bingham in the year 1911. It is believed to have been built by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, in around 1450-1460.

How to get there:

​There are flights from India to Lima. From Lima you will have to take another flight to Cuzco which is at the base of the Andes Mountain. From Cuzco, you need to take a train or can even trek to a small town Aguas Calientes from where you can take a bus up to the gates of Machu Picchu.

Visa:

One needs to have a ​valid US visa so as to travel to Lima.

What to see:

​You would also be bowled over by the natural beauty of the place. Just imagine being fortified by the mountains with the mist playing hide and seek with you! You hearing the beautiful sound of Urumba river flowing around 500 metres below! You will surely get a feeling to be on the top of the world!

The lost city of Inca is in a very good state up at Machu Picchu in spite of it being 100 years old. The palaces and the temple are in a remarkably preserved state. As it was built up high on the mountain it was left untouched and never attacked.

The glimpse of the intelligence of the Inca civilization can be seen from the ruins here. The Intihuatana stone which means ‘hitching post of the sun’ is a perfect example of this. The stone still accurately indicates the positioning of the sun. If you see it at noon on either equinox, you’ll notice the stone’s shadow disappear for a moment. The temple of sun was used by the Incas for astronomical observations and is yet another example of their intelligence!

The Royal Tomb is a cave-like building is the place where burial rituals were performed. There have been more than 100 skeletons excavated here. The baths near the tomb have a sophisticated aqueduct system which shows the masonry skill of the Incas.

After entering the city you will see the Watchman’s Hut. This is the perfect place to get a fantastic view over the whole city and should not be missed!

There are certain treks in the place that are not to be missed. Climb up the Sun Gate to see the ruins of the city of Incas from the top. A trek to Huayna Picchu which stands as guard behind Machu Picchu, would definitely be a rewarding one. It is an hour trek here and you would be served with the view of Machu Picchu from the top which is considered to be the best view of Machu Picchu.

There are many other places like Inca Bridge, principal temple, temple of three windows and many others which should not be missed.

Another view that people love to see is the sunrise at Machu Picchu. It is surely a sight to behold!

Permit:

​Along with the air tickets, visa you also need to get a permit to travel to Machu Picchu. Below are the options available for the permit:

Basic Entry. Includes entrance to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu: Includes entrance to Machu Picchu and access to the Huayna Picchu hike.

Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu Montaña: Includes entrance to Machu Picchu and access to the Montaña hike.

Cost:

​It is relatively expensive to travel to Machu Picchu due to the flight and visa cost from India. Ideally you should have a budget of Rs. 2 lacs to 2.5 lacs per person for a 6–7 days tour of this place.
The currency is Neuvo sol (S) is obtained in various standard denominations. The daily cost as per Lonely Planet works out something as under –

Budget: Less than S190

  • Inexpensive hotel room or dorm bed: S28–165
  • Set lunches: less than S15; supermarkets have takeout
  • Entry fee to historic sights: average S10

Midrange: S190–650

  • Double room in midrange hotel: S85–435
  • Main dish at midrange restaurant: S40
  • Group tours: from S120

Top end: More than S650

  • Double room in top-end hotel: from S250–435
  • Private city tour: from S200 per person
  • Fine restaurant dinner: from S60

Best time to Visit:

​April to October when it’s sunny is considered to be the best time to visit Machu Picchu.

Care to be taken:

Machu Picchu stands at around 2450 meters above sea level. As the oxygen level is low at these heights, you might get symptoms like headaches, dizziness, tiredness which will wear off after a day or two. Do some good exercising before visiting this place, so you are in perfect shape to adapt to the change in climate. People with asthma issues should check with the doctor before planning a trip here.

There are a few trips which you probably plan just once in a lifetime! Visit to this wonder would surely be one of them!

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