Machu Picchu, Peru-Visit to site…..
Also Read Article on Voyage Verdict’s Bucket List
Read Part-1, Journey Begins
Altitude sickness is no joke, and anyone can fall prey to it. I would strongly advise spending a few days in Cusco, getting attuned to the weather, before braving the high altitudes of Machu Picchu. I stayed at a nice boutique hotel, the Casa La Sambeleña, just a few steps away from the centre of Cusco and from the local railway station. It made for a humble, peaceful stay.
Cusco has adequate public transportation, though finding a bus can be a challenge. If you prefer taking a taxi, make sure to carry ample change in your pockets! To visit Machu Picchu, the trains originating from Cusco are a great, comfortable option. However, PeruRail does not run from January to mid-April on account of the heavy rains. Instead, it provides luxury buses from the city centre to Ollantaytambo – a 70-minute trip.
I woke up before dawn, as early as 4 am, to begin prepping for my much-awaited journey. A quick shower later, I headed downstairs to the in-house restaurant. As it was still quite early, the breakfast spread wasn’t ready yet. I settled for a cup of coffee and refreshing watermelon juice. I packed some fruits and light snacks for later and was all set to kick start the day. Since it was still pouring heavily outside, it made sense to take a cab to the bus station. The receptionist and bellboy were kind enough to arrange one for me. Mere minutes later I had arrived at the station, which was small but neat with two platforms and a waiting room. The check-in and boarding process was timely and smooth, courtesy of the genial staff. Keep in mind to have at least two copies of your ticket confirmation for both legs of the journey, as one will be collected from you at each check-in.
I occupied a window seat, and luckily I didn’t have to share the space with a fellow passenger. As the bus commenced sharp at 5:10 am, I made myself comfortable and quickly dozed off. Although marked by slopes initially, the overall bus ride was quite pleasant. A quick nap and some 40 minutes later, we had reached Ollantaytambo.
Ollantaytambo is notable and worth a visit before Machu Picchu. A thick fog hung over the 500-meter walkway leading up to the station from the parking bay for buses. Encircled by several hills, this station was just a little larger than the one at Cusco, with three tracks, a waiting room, and clean restrooms. A couple of food outlets provided affordable refreshments. I had some much-appreciated masala chai (tea) and snacks that I had packed earlier.
Thereafter, my journey to Machu Picchu station was truly mesmerizing, as the route overlooked scenic mountains and serene rivers rippling by. We reached there around 9:45 am, where a young guide was waiting for us. She led us to the next bus, which would carry us through the last leg of this journey to the actual site of Machu Picchu. It was a short 40-minute ride, and we disembarked around 11:20 pm. Next, tourists were split into two groups for the guided tour, based on our preferred language – Portuguese or English. What can I say! I was the sole person who chose English and now I had a private guide for the site visit 😀
The Machu Picchu ruins are all that remain of a 15th-century Incan citadel. This pre-Columbian site is nearly intact, with the ancient fortress nestled between the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu peaks. Remarkably, the site was never discovered by the Spanish conquistadors, while the royal estate was inhabited for just about 80 years before being abandoned.
Approximately covering five square miles, the site is built with dry stone walls in Incan style. The builder used dry Ashlar masonry techniques, in which no mortar is used and oddly-shaped stones are positioned together like pieces from a jigsaw. These are fitted so precisely that there is barely any margin in between; even a small hairpin could not fit.
A massive square separates the site’s urban location into two – the ceremonial portion of the old citadel, and the residential portion. The upper town housed the temples, whereas the lower town resided in the working class. The site has over 200 remarkable structures, each serving a unique purpose. The most significant, however, are the ones atop the mountains, which were dedicated to the sun.
Some of the most notable of these structures are:
- Temple of the Sun: Also called Torreon, an immense structure that may have doubled as an observatory
- The Room of the Three Windows: Each of the three windows is believed to represent one of the Incan worlds
- Kwacha, Hanan-Pecha, and Kay-Pecha.
- The Insinuating Stone: The ritual stone, which was instrumental in observing the sun’s path throughout the year.
- The Royalty Area: Large houses high up on the slope, with breath-taking views of the valley
- The Wise person’s residence, with unique red-colored walls
- The Princesses Zone.
- The Guardhouse.
- The Mausoleum
- The Sacred Plaza and Main Temple
- The Stairway of Fountains: It provided residents with clean water for drinking and bathing.
There are hundreds of terraces built for agricultural purposes, which you can see from a distance. Altogether, the terraced area covers 12 acres but couldn’t grow enough to feed everyone who lived in the city. Hence, much of the food that was consumed there was imported.
My guide was full of youthful enthusiasm and charm, as he gave me a detailed explanation for every part of the site visit. He even volunteered to take some “insta-worthy” pictures of me with Machu Picchu, in all its blissful glory in the backdrop. We had been there for almost 31/2 hours before it began to rain. My guide offered me an umbrella as we proceeded towards the exit.
Interestingly, there is a small visa counter just left off the exit gate where you can get your passport stamped as proof of having visited Machu Picchu. There is a solitary restaurant at the sit, but it is quite pricy. I would advise anyone on a budget to bring your own meal.
The line for the return journey was long, but I was able to board within 20 minutes. Soon we arrived in Aguas Calientes. I decided to wander around in the city for a bit, before heading back to Cusco.
Train departs as per departure time and soon after a 20 Minutes they served snacks and cold drink of your choice, the veg sandwich was very soft and testy.
it was long day of about 18 Hours but the experience was awesome and one of my best memorable day.
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