Day 2: Cuzco to Machu Pichu
The easiest way to get to Machu Pichu is to take the train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes. Machu Pichu is then a simple 15 minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes. If one has more time, one can hike the Inca trail which can take any where from a few days to a week depending on how far along the trail one wants to go. I opted for a short 2 day trip to Machu Pichu so that I could spend more time in the Amazon since bird photography was one of the main reasons for this trip. On the afternoon of my second day in Peru I had already made it to Machu Pichu! I had always wanted to visit this place from when I was a kid and definitely want to return with Aditya and Gowri once Aditya is old enough to appreciate it.
Despite seeing so many pictures of Machu Pichu, it is unbelievable to see it in person.
I took a took a two hour guided tour about the various theories on what this place meant to the Incas. It is still quite mysterious and open to debate since the Incas did not have a written language. The mountain in the background is Huayna Pichu which I obtained tickets to climb the next morning.
Walking through the ruins is amazing. The area is actually not very large and on all sides there are big drop offs to the valley below.
Above on the right you can see the terraces the Inca used to grow crops to support the city. You can also see the Urubamba river in the valley below which is where the closest city Aguas Calientes sits.
Many of the temples at the site are dedicated to either animals, the sun or moon. The temple of the condor is an example of Inca stonemasonry. From a natural rock formation the Inca skillfully shaped the rock into the outspread wings of a condor in flight. On the floor of the temple is a rock carved in the shape of the condor's head and neck feathers, completing the figure of a three-dimensional bird. By the time we got to this part of the ruins the sun had come out.
The Temple of the Sun is a round tapered tower. The stonework of this temple is some of the finest in the city, outlining its importance. In the center of the temple is a carved rock with a straight edge. During the Summer solstice, this edge will precisely align with the light falling through the only window of the temple. Observing the sun was very important to the Inca. During the winter solstice (when the Sun is furthest from the Earth), the Inca would hold a festival, which included sacrifice to bring the sun back.
After visiting Machu Pichu for several hours and taking countless photos, I took the bus back down to the town of Aguas Calientes where I was to spend the night. It is a cute little town with no motor traffic. It is mostly here to accommodate the tourists for Machu Pichu. The train brings the tourists from Cuzco and a series of buses takes them to the site.