Machu Picchu the Lost City of the Inca Empire Explained !
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Incan citadel located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, renowned for its archaeological significance and breathtaking scenery. Built by the Inca emperor Pachacuti around 1450, it is perched nearly 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level, overlooking the Urubamba River valley.
The site is made up of more than 150 buildings, including temples, houses, and terraces, connected by intricate stone paths. Machu Picchu is divided into an agricultural sector, with terraces for farming, and an urban sector, which includes residential areas and sacred spaces. Key structures include the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone (used as a solar clock), and the Room of the Three Windows.
It is believed to have served as a royal estate or a religious site for Inca elites. Though abandoned in the 16th century, it remained largely unknown to the outside world until its rediscovery by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Today, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination, celebrated for its engineering, design, and integration with its natural surroundings.