Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains of Peru, is one of the worlds most renown ancient cities. It is the city of Inca Empire. The city was hidden from the outside world for hundreds of years. It is perhaps the most familiar icon of Inca civilization.
This 15th century Inca site is located 2430 miters (7970ft) above the sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupichu District in Peru. It covers more than 116 square miles or area which is around 80,000 acres (32,500 hectares). It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks—Machu Picchu (“Old Peak”) and Huayna Picchu (“New Peak”)
Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas". The site’s excellent preservation, the quality of its architecture, and the breathtaking mountain vista it occupies has made Machu Picchu one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world today. Terraced fields on the edge of the site were once used for growing crops, likely maize and potatoes.
Machu Picchu was first seen by an American 100 years ago.American archaeologist Hiram Bingham(he was on a trip sponsored by the Yale University, actually looking for Vilacamba, the last Inca hideout).
The story of Machu Picchu is still unknown. It is assumed that Machu Picchu was a country resort for elite Incas.with polished dry-stone walls. Two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation.Little is known of the social or religious use of the site during Inca times. The skeletal remains of ten females to one male had led to the casual assumption that the site may have been a sanctuary for the training of priestesses and /or brides for the Inca nobility. Technology at the turn of the 21st-century, however, identified a significant proportion of males and a great diversity in physical types.
Peru's most famous tourist attraction and also a U.N. World Heritage site. The place attracts more than 500,000 foreign visitors a year and a large tourist industry with hotels and travel agencies has grown around it. There are tour operator agencies to organise to adrenaline trip to Machu Picchu: biking, rafting, hiking, zip lining and bussing to Machhu Picchu that is an interesting way to get there and can take up to three days.
Machu Picchu is busiest in July and August, the peak tourist season and also the not-quite-so-wet season. It is never totally dry in the Andean foothills and you’ll probably get showers and mist clinging to the peaks at some stage of your visit. November to April is the rainy season, with January and February the wettest months, so the shoulders of these – the actual months of November and April – are ideal if you want to avoid the heaviest crowds and heaviest rains.
The ruins are commonly reached in a day trip from Cuzco by first taking a narrow-gauge railway and then ascending nearly 1,640 feet (500 metres) from the Urubamba River valley on a serpentine road. Smaller numbers of visitors arrive by hiking the Inca Trail.
As a result of the high altitude, temperatures at Machu Picchu can be cool, and it is useful to have a decent sweater as well as rainproof gear. There are sandflies around the site, so a good repellent is essential.
The name of the archaeological site Machu Picchu is sometimes misspelled as machu pichu, macchu picchu, machu piccu, machupicchu, macu picchu, macho picchu, machu piccho, machu picch, macha picchu, machu piccuh, mach picchu. The correct spelling is Machu Picchu.
To see the panorama of Machu Picchu visit the link - http://www.airpano.ru/files/Machu-Picchu-Peru/2-2
