Discover 5 secrets of Machu Picchu

Discover 5 secrets of Machu Picchu

When all factors are considered, Machu Picchu is a fascinating destination! Along with its picturesque backdrops, ancient citadels and temples, lovely hiking trails, and microclimates unlike anywhere else in the world, we can only speculate on what other mysteries it holds.

And because researchers are still investigating the true nature of Machu Picchu, we will certainly learn more in the future! So, while we’re at it, are you ready to discover the 5 secrets of Machu Picchu?

Discover 5 secrets of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu was mistaken as the Lost City of the Incas.

Did you know that Machu Picchu was mistaken for the Lost City of the Incas? When explorer Hiram Bingham III discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, he was actually looking for another lost city called Vilcabamba. Vilcabamba was a hidden Inca capital that served as an escape route during the early 1500s Spanish invasions.

Although Hiram Bingham III worked hard to prove that Machu Picchu is the Lost City of the Incas. He was clearly mistaken because the actual Vilcabamba was discovered in 1964 by Gene Savoy, known as Espiritu Pampa.

Discover 5 secrets of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is mostly underground.

Most of us are amazed by how well the engineering operations and architectural designs in Machu Picchu have been handled. Everything is particularly impressive given that the Incas constructed it all without the use of metal frameworks, wheels, or cement. But did you know that most of Machu Picchu are underground?

According to engineer Kenneth Wright, 60% of the construction at Machu Picchu was done underground. The deep building structures were made of crushed rocks, because the main goal was to get proper drainage with the heavy rainfall.

Discover 5 secrets of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is resilient to earthquakes.

Another of Machu Picchu’s secrets is that it is extremely resilient to earthquakes. This was made possible by an ancient Inca engineering technique known as “ashlar masonry,” which was used to perfectly fit together rocks without the use of mortar.

With this method, not even a very thin card can be inserted between these rocks, but it is said that during earthquakes, these rocks seem to “dance,” or wobble through the aftershocks before returning to their original positions.

Discover 5 secrets of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu has a hidden museum.

When you visit Machu Picchu, you will be surprised at how little information there is about the Inca ruins! So how can you learn about its incredible history, let alone how this Incan city was built?

You can find the answer at Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón, a hidden Machu Picchu museum that is about a 30-minute walk from the town of Aguas Calientes.

Discover 5 secrets of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is thought to be part of a pilgrimage.

The trip to Machu Picchu must have been a pilgrimage, according to Italian archaeo-astronomer Giulio Magli! He goes on to say that rather than allowing people to travel through the less picturesque Urubamba River. The Incas wanted to incorporate something stunning and fulfilling into the pilgrimage, which is why they built the Inca Trail, which provided access to the glorious Machu Picchu.

The hike up to the Intihuatana Stone, the highest point in the ruins, is also thought to be the highlight of the pilgrimage.

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