Machu Picchu urban area Entering from the Gate of City to head for the Sacred Plaza.
To the Gate of City from the Guardhouse along the path on the top of terraced fields.
Machu Picchu is divided into an urban area, residences, and an agricultural area, terraced fields, with high walls and deep moats.
The Gate of City surrounded by stone walls
When we stand in front of the gate, Huayna Picchu fits snugly into a frame of the gate.
The gate is 2 m and 20 cm high and a big stone on it is 3 tons.
After having gone through the Gate of City, look back toward the path we came now from inside of the city. We can see the Guardhouse on hilltop.
The Guardhouse on the top of terraced fields. Terraced fields are called Andenes here.
Ruins of lounge or accommodation for visitors to the city.
Urban area is divided into 2 sectors with a central square; a sacred sector on the higher left and a residential sector on the lower right.
The Sacred Plaza, a center of the sacred area, has three buildings; the Principal Temple, the Temple with three windows, the House of Priest.
The Temple with three windows（Templo de Las Tres Ventanas) The windows are facing the east the sun rises.
The Principal Temple （El Templo Principal) It's built for Viracocha of a great Creator God in Inca mythology.
The quarry can be seen at the back of Sacred Plaza. All stones of the ruins are granite which was cut out from here.
There is a coca tree in the small garden called Mini Botanical Garden.
Huayna Picchu can be seen also from the other gate in the city.
video (60 sec) Landscape of the urban ruins
Plaza Principal, the central square that spreads from north to south. Various kind of events and rituals was held there.
Each house in those days had a thatch roof.
A lot of climbers to Huayna Picchu, a steep rock mountain which is 250-300m higher than the city.
The Fountains （Las Fontanas) It's one of 16 fountains. Stone-made waterways carry water from far mountain.
Temple of the Condor （Templo del Cóndor） It's said to have sacrificed llamas on this stone of condor's head at rituals.
Temple of the Condor The rockwork behind the stone of condor's head looks like that a condor spreads its wings.
Discover an Andean rabbit, vizcacha, between rocks. This is a kind of rat.
Usually a viscacha hardly move around because of less oxygen.
End of Urban area. return to countries visited
