What makes Machu Picchu such a mysterious and magical place to visit is that the purpose of the ancient ruins is still a mystery. Discovered only recently in 1911, due to its isolation in the higher mountain of Peru, Machu Picchu, it’s estimated that 1200 people could have lived there at any one time, but it’s also thought that it may have been a mountain retreat for elite Incan rulers.
What makes Machu Picchu particularly mysterious is that because of its isolation it is still unknown how the massive structure of Machu Picchu were built. Much like other famous monuments like Stonehenge in the U.K. there are many theories, but no definitive information. And also like Stonehenge, there are far-flung theories about its construction, including alien intervention!
Even with this sense of mystery, much of Machu Picchu is practical as well – a combination of both form and function. As it is built high in the mountains, it is built using an aqueduct system which utilizes the natural slope of the hills and gravity. The religious centers are high atop Machu Picchu’s peaks, overlooking the Urubamba Valley.
Visiting Machu Picchu isn’t just about visiting the ruins, but the entire experience of hiking through Peru’s jungle forests. Hikers will be hiking along and suddenly there is a foundation among the dense wilderness. Pictures don’t really do it justice, and it is something that needs to be seen, and felt, to be believed. Over 7,000 feet above sea level, it’s not an easy hike, but it is worth it to see one of the world’s great wonders.
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