What is Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu Information

Only a few places in the world possess the kind of natural beauty and historic charisma that can capture the hearts and minds of visitors in an instant, and Machu Picchu is one of them!

What is Machu Picchu?

Many have heard about this wonder of the world, however, few have real insight until they visit. Keep a step ahead & find out about this jewel of Peru, understanding exactly what it has to offer.

Machu Picchu Information

Machu Picchu is a nearly intact archaeological city built in the 15th Century by the Ancient Peruvian civilisations of the Icas. It lies North of the city of Cusco which used to be the capital of this incan civilisation. It is located 2,430meters above sea level hidden in the mist and clutches of the andean mountains. It is an expansive maze of a now unused city, which plays host to agricultural terraces, housing units, drainage systems, schools, hospitals and hidden entrances alongside worshiping and sacrificial temples.

The Incas who inhabited this ancient city were predominantly an agricultural civilization who used technology, engendering and astronomy to support this focus. Not surprising then that they were nature worshipers with their deities being the mother – nature, the father – mountains and most importantly the sun. They believed in balance and strived for this in everything that they did. Recognising the opposites and equals of things in nature, creating symmetry within their building and structures and understanding the balance of the agricultural patterns.

They had a strict hierarchy system which started with the Inca (the king) and went down to the farm workers. Even though there was a classification system in society each role was arduous, and work filled as the Inca abhorred laziness. Unlike close civilisations such as the Aztecs and Mayans there is no indication of any monetary system among the Incas. Instead a reciprocate culture was in force that one must help another without payment, however if that person was ever in need, they would also receive it. Each person was expected to work; however, each person received all that they needed in an even distribution of wealth society.

Integrity

The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu meets the conditions of integrity, as the natural and human-made attributes and values that sustain its Outstanding Universal value are mostly contained within its boundaries. The visual ensemble linking the leading archaeological site of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu with its unique mountain environment remains mostly intact for many years.

It is profitable to extend the property to encompass a broader spectrum of human-land relationships, additional cultural sites, such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and a more significant part of the Urubamba watershed would contribute to strengthening the overall integrity. In particular, the value of conserving the many rare and endemic species of flora and fauna would benefit from the inclusion or a more robust management consideration of the adjacent lands. Many well-documented threats render the property vulnerable to losing its future integrity and require permanent administration and attention.

Authenticity

Upon the abandonment of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu at the beginning of the sixteenth century, flora growth and isolation ensured the nature preservation of the architectural attributes of the property. Although the design, materials, and structures have suffered slight changes due to the fabric’s decay, the authenticity conditions have not changed. The rediscovery in 1911 and subsequent archaeological excavations and conservation interventions have followed practices and international standards that have maintained the property’s attributes.