A Guide to the Culturally Rich and Amazing World Wonder of Machu Picchu


Book Description

Table of Contents Introduction History of Machu Picchu Some Facts about the Incas Some Facts about the Inca Empire Some Facts about Machu Picchu Building Machu Picchu Machu Picchu Geography and Climate Machu Picchu Layout Religious Artifacts of Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun Temple of the Three Windows Principal Temple Inihuatana Civil Structures of Machu Picchu Agricultural Sector Living Places Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Transportation Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) Machu Picchu Transport Shopping in Machu Picchu Machu Picchu Nightlife Machu Picchu Sports Activities Multi-Sport in Machu Picchu Machu Picchu Health and Safety Getting Around: Machu Picchu Hotels Machu Picchu Restaurants Final Words Author Bio Publisher Introduction Machu Picchu is a place, very few people have heard of. It was not until 1911 that people became aware of it. This is a magical city right up there in the clouds. Interested yet? Let us learn more about this amazing place called Machu Picchu. About the people who built it, about the period when it was built, how it was built, how was this amazing place like and who discovered it. A professor from Yale Hiram Bingham used to explore the less travelled and used to look out for hidden places. He was looking everywhere for Vilcabamba but nobody knew about it. Then he met with someone called Arteaga and Bingham asked him about the presence of any nearby ruins. Arteaga informed him about ruins on the top of the mountains named Machu Picchu but was reluctant to take him there because of presence of snakes. Bingham tried to offer him money and ultimately Arteaga agreed. They started the journey to the top of the mountain. They found a boy and Bingham asked him if there were any ruins. They went on and found some Inca stones and they stumbled upon a majestic stone staircase. Upon climbing the top of the staircase, they found a stone temple and got mesmerized by the beauty of the place. They found another temple which was as enthralling. Bingham had a black box camera and he wanted to take some pictures, the 1st picture being that of the boy. Then he saw some vines in a distance and Bingham thought that it must be Vilcabamba. However, he removed the vines and understood that didn’t discover Vilcabamba, fortune has been kind enough to lead him to a place that is even more wonderful. He had discovered Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu was built by the Incas, around 1430. It was a small city but was built way on the top of the Andes mountain range. It was built at a remote place and was built between two peaks of the mighty Andes and at a height of 8,000 feet above the sea level. Known as the land of Gods- Machu Picchu was quite an organized society with all the services- military, financial, tax, goods etc. With over 150 structures including homes, palaces and temples. No doubt that Machu Picchu is “the city in the clouds.”




Turn Right at Machu Picchu


Book Description

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING TRAVEL MEMOIR What happens when an unadventurous adventure writer tries to re-create the original expedition to Machu Picchu? In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent. Turn Right at Machu Picchu is Adams’ fascinating and funny account of his journey through some of the world’s most majestic, historic, and remote landscapes guided only by a hard-as-nails Australian survivalist and one nagging question: Just what was Machu Picchu?




Lost City of the Incas


Book Description

First published in the 1950s, this is a classic account of the discovery in 1911 of the lost city of Machu Picchu. In 1911 Hiram Bingham, a pre-historian with a love of exotic destinations, set out to Peru in search of the legendary city of Vilcabamba, capital city of the last Inca ruler, Manco Inca. With a combination of doggedness and good fortune he stumbled on the perfectly preserved ruins of Machu Picchu perched on a cloud-capped ledge 2000 feet above the torrent of the Urubamba River. The buildings were of white granite, exquisitely carved blocks each higher than a man. Bingham had not, as it turned out, found Vilcabamba, but he had nevertheless made an astonishing and memorable discovery, which he describes in his bestselling book LOST CITY OF THE INCAS.




World's Greatest Wonders


Book Description

World's Greatest Wonders is an illuminating visual guide to 30 stunning man-made and natural wonders—with annotated 3-D reconstructions and cutaway models from various stages in human development that allow you to journey right to the heart of each of them. We live on a unique planet. The only one that we know of that has life. Amidst the budding civilizations and testaments to human creativity and ingenuity, great geological and ecological diversity have surrounded us since humans took their first steps. The Earth has developed into a truly astounding place to live. The clash of the natural forces that sculpted earth’s surface for millions of years has been supplemented by the great creative spirit of human beings, who have built their own wonders. We have before us a whole world, our own to explore and discover, to find and revel in the natural paradises created by the patient hand of nature as well as the astonishing constructions imagined by the genius of humankind. You just have to look around and take in the spectacle. The wonders: Stonehenge, Pyramids of Giza, Valley of the Kings, Petra, Acropolis, Terracotta Army, The Colosseum, Teotihuacán, Nazca Lines, Chichen Itzá, The Moai, Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu, Forbidden City, St. Peter’s Basilica, Taj Mahal, Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House, Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, The Amazon, Iguazu Falls, Sahara, Virunga National Park, Kilimanjaro, Anjajavy, Himalayas, Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, and Tongariro. See the best of human and natural creation in the World's Greatest Wonders.




Fodor's Essential Peru


Book Description

For a limited time, receive a free Fodor's Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel e-book with the purchase of this guidebook! Go to fodors.com for details. Written by locals, Fodor's Essential Peru is the perfect guidebook for those looking for insider tips to make the most out their visit to Lima, Machu Picchu, Cusco and beyond. Complete with detailed maps and concise descriptions, this Peru travel guide will help you plan your trip with ease. Join Fodor’s in exploring one of the most exciting countries in South America. Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Inca, and the Nazca Lines are among the most-visited and awe-inspiring archaeological sites in the world. Bursting with beautiful full-color photos, Fodor's Peru provides expert insider advice on everything from the best guides to the Inca Trail to how to experience native cultures on Lake Titicaca. Fodor’s Essential Peru includes: •EXPANDED AND UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE: Special emphasis has been placed on trending Lima's dining scene and alternate Inca Trail-type hiking routes. Focused coverage on Peru's essential, must-see destinations includes new restaurants and hotels. •DETAILED COLOR MAPS: Full-size, easy-to-use maps throughout will help you plan efficiently and get around confidently. •ITINERARIES AND TOP RECOMMENDATIONS: Sample itineraries will help you plan and make the most of your time. We include tips on where to eat, stay, and shop as well as information about museums, trails, and nightlife. “Fodor's Choice” designates our best picks in every category. •GORGEOUS PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: Beautifully illustrated, in-depth coverage of Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, and the Nazca Lines with maps, history, and practical tips. Other features cover Peru’s history and ancient sites, the Amazon jungle, the Cordillera Blanca, Peruvian food, and more. •INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Includes a "Need to Know" feature offering top-line planning information about the country as a whole, "Top Attractions," "Great Itineraries," packing advice, frequently asked questions, extensive information on trusted tour operators, regional overviews, and transportation information for getting around by car, bus, and train. •COVERS: Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Nazca, Amazon, Cordillera Blanca, and much more. ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor's has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. Planning on visiting other destinations in South America? Check out Fodor’s Essential Chile and Fodor’s Essential Argentina.




Andean Awakening


Book Description

'Andean Awakening' delves beneath the surface of the everyday tourist view of Peru to explore the mysteries of the Inca.




The White Rock


Book Description

An explorer searches the Peruvian Andes for a lost ruin in “a gem of a book [that] transcends the travel writing genre” with fascinating Inca history (Los Angeles Times). A New York Times Notable Book With the backdrop of the ever-intriguing Andes mountains, Hugh Thomson explores the intoxicating history of the Inca people and their heartland. The author, an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and explorer, expertly weaves accounts of his own discoveries and brushes with danger with the history of those who preceded him—including the explorer Hiram Bingham, who discovered Machu Picchu; the twentieth century South American photographer, Martín Chambi; the poet Pablo Neruda; and the Spanish conquistadores who destroyed the Inca civilization—and the eccentric characters he meets on his travels. Following in the footsteps of the explorers Gene Savoy and Hiram Bingham, Thomson set off into the jungle to find the lost city of Llactapat. This is the story of his journey to discover it via the interconnecting paths the Incas laid across the Andes.




IN THE WONDERLAND OF PERU


Book Description




The Great Inka Road


Book Description

This compelling collection of essays explores the Qhapaq nan (or Great Inca Road), an extensive network of trails reaching modern-day Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. These roads and the accompanying agricultural terraces and structures that have survived for more than six centuries are a testament to the advanced engineering and construction skills of the Inca people. The Qhapaq nan also spurred an important process of ecological and community integration across the Andean region. This book, the companion volume to a National Museum of the American Indian exhibition of the same name, features essays on six main themes: the ancestors of the Inca, Cusco as the center of the empire, road engineering, road transportation and integration, the road in the Colonial era, and the road today. Beautifully designed and featuring more than 225 full-color illustrations, The Great Inka Road is a fascinating look at this enduring symbol of the Andean peoples' strength and adaptability.




The Machu Picchu Guidebook


Book Description

"The best all around guide for those who've been or who are going to Machu Picchu . . . . Absolutely indispensable!"--Don Montague, president, South American Explorers. This revised edition includes newly discovered sites and full-color illustrations of real-life scenes from "National Geographic."