Discovering the World Sans Valise: Journey to Machu Picchu, the magnificent Inca Citadel tucked away in a beautiful setting above the Sacred Valley

Machu Picchu needs no introduction. We were truly thrilled to have the amazing opportunity to explore Machu Picchu in Peru with Marion and Keith. We took the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, spent the night in Aguas Calientes and left very early the next morning by bus to go to Machu Picchu. Our goal was to climb Huayna Picchu in the morning at 7 am and then visit Machu Picchu the rest of the day.
We had of course seen many pictures of the site but arriving up there at dawn was the ultimate treat. We were the first (tourists) on the site that morning. We walked through the site to reach the entrance to Huayna Picchu. It was unreal and so beautiful/magical to watch the sunrise from Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is a citadel of cut stones fit together very tightly without mortar.The complex of palaces and plazas, temples and homes may have been built as a ceremonial site, a military stronghold, or a retreat for ruling elites. It is tucked away in a dramatic location, surrounded on three sides by the Urubamba river some 2000 feet below. Since the Inca had no written language, they left no record of why they built this site and how they used it. When Machu Picchu was built, Incas had no iron, no steel and no wheels which makes this architectural and engineering achievement even more impressive.

Machu Picchu is the most familiar icon of the Inca civilization. Built around 1450 by an Inca emperor, it was abandoned a century later possibly due to disease spreading or drought. Although this site was known by locals for many years, the Spaniards did not know about it and it was therefore left unknown to the outside world for more than four centuries. It is the American historian Hiram Bingham who brought it to international attention in 1911.

Huayna Picchu is the pyramid mountain next to Machu Picchu. It is possible to climb to the top. The view from up there is unbelievable and an instant reward to the intense effort that needs to be exerted to reach the top :)) The Incas built a trail along the side of Huayna Picchu as well as temples and terraces on its top.

Here are the pics of this wonderful and memorable day.