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Cool Facts About Machu Picchu You Might Not Know
Hey there! Ever heard of Machu Picchu? It’s that super famous old Inca spot way up high by the Urubamba River. People talk about it a lot, but there are some kinda hidden things about it. In this article, we’re gonna check out 10 interesting facts about Machu Picchu that maybe aren’t everywhere. Thinking about how it was built, its history, and the little details makes it seem even more amazing. Keep reading and find out some neat stuff about this Inca treasure!
Machu Picchu sits at about 2,430 meters (around 7,972 feet) above sea level. Pretty high up there!
Who Built Machu Picchu? A Powerful Leader
So, the story goes that a big Incan ruler named Pachacutec ordered Machu Picchu to be built. This guy was known for getting huge building projects done.
Pachacutec wasn’t just about Machu Picchu though. He also had a hand in places like Sacsayhuamán, which is famous for its really big stone walls, located near Cusco at about 3,700 meters (roughly 12,140 feet). And he even got the main temple in Cusco covered in gold! Cusco (also called Qosqo back then) is much lower down at about 3,399 meters (around 11,152 feet). The main temple there was the Qorikancha. People who visit Cusco today are still blown away by what this leader created. Wouldn’t you want to see these awesome spots and learn their stories? It’s like, wow, how did they even build all this?
What Was It Called Before?
Before people outside the local area really knew about it, Machu Picchu had another name: Patallaqta. That’s a word from the Quechua language, and it basically means “city on high.” Think about it – “Pata” is high, and “Llaqta” is city or town. That name makes total sense ’cause it’s way up there on the mountain, kinda hidden by plants and clouds. This hiding spot helped it stay unknown for ages.
Who Showed Machu Picchu to Everyone?
A lot of folks say an explorer named Hiram Bingham found Machu Picchu, but that’s not exactly right. People living nearby already knew it was there. What Bingham did was tell the rest of the world about it in 1911. He went on an trip, wrote stuff down, and showed pictures, making it famous.
Before Bingham came along, local people and even some other explorers had seen this Inca place. But Bingham’s work is what made it a big deal globally, seen as a really important old discovery. That’s just one of the cool facts about Machu Picchu that still makes visitors go “hmm” today.
The Spanish Never Found It
When the Spanish took over the Inca Empire, they never actually found Machu Picchu. So, it just stayed untouched. The city was hidden for centuries, partly because it was in a remote place that was tough for the Spanish to get to.
How did it stay secret for such a long time? Machu Picchu’s spot high up on a mountain, surrounded by thick forest, kept it hidden from the Spanish. Being so far away from the main paths meant the city was kept safe for hundreds of years until it was shown to the world again. It’s pretty incredible to think about.
How Was It Built? Still a Bit of a Puzzle
Machu Picchu was put together using building skills that were super advanced for its time. But exactly how they did it is still kind of a mystery. The walls that can handle earthquakes and how precisely the stones fit together show they knew a lot. It leaves people visiting with tons of questions. Like, seriously, no cement?
But hey, if you visit with our guides, they can help answer your questions. Get ready and have your questions ready to learn its secrets.
Perfect Line-Up With the Sky
The way Machu Picchu lines up with the stars proves the Incas were smart about astronomy.
They built places like the Intihuatana (which means “hitching post of the sun”) and the Sun Temple to perfectly follow where the sun was during the year, like at the solstices and equinoxes. This shows they weren’t just good at looking at the sky, but also building and other sciences. Pretty clever, right?
It Wasn’t the Main Place
Even though Machu Picchu is one of the most amazing things the Incas made, their main city was Cusco. That’s where the Qoricancha was, the most important Sun temple, along with palaces and buildings that made Cusco the center of everything for the Inca Empire.
Seen on the Big Screen
Here’s a fun fact: Machu Picchu has been a background in some movies! Films like Transformers, Paddington, The Motorcycle Diaries, and The Secret of the Incas have shown it. These movies helped bring even more attention to the site. Lots of nature shows and films have shown its incredible views, making people see it as one of the most beautiful spots anywhere.
People Feel Something Special There
Many travelers who visit Machu Picchu say they feel a unique vibe or special energy when they’re there.
Being at the site makes people feel something that’s hard to put into words. Maybe it’s how beautiful it is, feeling connected to nature, or the history held in the stones. For lots of people, it feels like the place has a kind of magical power that makes it even more interesting and impactful. Seriously, you just gotta feel it yourself. Think about planning your trip to Machu Picchu to see its amazingness up close. Peru is something else!
A Face in the Mountains?
Look behind Machu Picchu, and you might see something cool. The Huayna Picchu and Huchuy Picchu mountains kinda look like a natural Inca face carved into the rocks. As the sun moves during the day, the shape of this face can seem clearer.
Yeah, it sounds wild, but check out a picture and you can see what they mean.
Machu Picchu Still Blows People Away
These facts about Machu Picchu show that this Inca wonder still has lots of mysteries. Its history, how it was built, and how it lines up with the stars make it a one-of-a-kind place that travelers and experts find super interesting.
Every part of this wonder holds secrets that help us understand how great the Inca culture was. If these cool facts about Machu Picchu got you interested, nothing beats going there yourself and feeling its magic up close.
Traveling is about finding stuff out, learning, and making memories you won’t forget. And Peru is totally the place for all of that. Its landscapes, history, and culture make every trip different, full of moments that can change how you see things.
We have some Peru trips you can check out. Your adventure in Peru is super close. Get in touch with us now and start experiencing all the cool facts about Machu Picchu firsthand. ¡Vamos!