Huayna Picchu

Last updated
Huayna Picchu
Peru Machu Picchu Sunrise.jpg
Sunrise over Huayna Picchu towering above the ruins of Machu Picchu
Highest point
Elevation 2,693 m (8,835 ft)
Prominence 313 m (1,027 ft) [1]
Coordinates 13°09′27″S72°32′50″W / 13.15750°S 72.54722°W / -13.15750; -72.54722
Naming
Native nameWayna Pikchu (Quechua)
Geography
Peru physical map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Huayna Picchu
Parent range Andes
The peak of the mountain Wayna Picchu, Peru-27Oct2009.jpg
The peak of the mountain
The track to the peak Steps to Huayna Picchu.jpg
The track to the peak

Huayna Picchu, Quechua : Wayna Pikchu, is a mountain in Peru around which the Urubamba River bends. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. [2] It rises over Machu Picchu, the so-called Lost City of the Incas. The Incas built a trail up the side of the Huayna Picchu and constructed temples and terraces at its top. The peak of Huayna Picchu is 2,693 metres (8,835 ft) above sea level, or about 260 metres (850 ft) higher than Machu Picchu. [3]

Contents

According to local guides, the top of the mountain was the residence for the high priest and the local virgins. Every morning before sunrise, the high priest with a small group would walk to Machu Picchu to signal the coming of the new day. The Temple of the Moon, one of the three major temples in the Machu Picchu area, is nestled on the side of the mountain and is situated at an elevation lower than Machu Picchu. Adjacent to the Temple of the Moon is the Great Cavern, another sacred temple with fine masonry. The other major local temples in Machu Picchu are the Temple of the Condor, Temple of Three Windows, Principal Temple, "Unfinished Temple", and the Temple of the Sun, also called the Torreon. [4]

Its name is Hispanicized, possibly from the Quechua, alternative spelling Wayna Pikchu; wayna young, young man, pikchu pyramid, mountain or prominence with a broad base which ends in sharp peaks, [5] [6] "young peak". The current Quechua orthography used by the Ministerio de Cultura is Waynapicchu and Machupicchu. [7]

Tourism

Huayna Picchu may be visited throughout the year, but the number of daily visitors allowed on Huayna Picchu is restricted to 400. There are two times that visitors may enter the Huayna Picchu Trail; entrance between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and another from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. The 400 permitted hikers are split evenly between the two entrance times. [8]

A steep and, at times, exposed pathway leads to the summit. Some portions are slippery and steel cables (a via ferrata) provide some support during the one-hour climb. The ascent is more challenging between November and April because the path up the mountain becomes slippery in the rainy season. Better climbing conditions can be expected during the dry season, which runs from May to September. There are two trails of varying lengths that visitors can take to hike to the summit. The shorter trail takes approximately 45–60 minutes to reach the top, while the longer trail takes approximately 3 hours to reach the summit.

From the summit, a second trail, which is currently closed for maintenance, leads down to the Gran Caverna and what is known as the Temple of the Moon. [9] These natural caves, on the northern face of the mountain, are lower than the starting point of the trail. The return path from the caves completes a loop around the mountain where it rejoins the main trail.

Panoramic view of Machu Picchu, with Huayna Picchu at the background P1150143 Pano4 - Machu Picchu.JPG
Panoramic view of Machu Picchu, with Huayna Picchu at the background

Temple of the Moon

The second path leads to the back of the mountain and reaches one of the most notable underground construction complexes in the region. These are several caves, some of which have been lined (on a larger scale than the Mausoleum of Machu Picchu) with finely crafted blocks that have been cut to fit precisely with the irregular contours of the large rock outcrops that serve as their ceiling. The walls, clearly ornamental in nature, include false doorways and trapezoidal niches with double and triple jambs. Although their specific function is unknown, it is clear that they are elite constructions due to the effort required to build them. It is believed that they may have had funerary uses and that all the tombs were looted at some point in the region's history. [10]

The name "Temple of the Moon" is arbitrary and lacks archaeological backing, although it has become popular among archaeologists and tour guides. It reveals, in any case, the common interest in comparing it in quality with other Inca buildings, such as the "Temple of the Sun" of Machu Picchu.

Reaching this site takes approximately an hour and a half walking from the citadel. From here, another path descends towards the Urubamba River.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machu Picchu</span> 15th-century Inca citadel in Peru

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a mountain ridge at 2,430 meters (7,970 ft). Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is the most familiar icon of the Inca Empire. It is located in the Machupicchu District within the Urubamba Province above the Sacred Valley, which is 80 kilometers (50 mi) northwest of the city of Cusco. The Urubamba River flows past it, cutting through the Cordillera and creating a canyon with a subtropical mountain climate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacred Valley</span> Valley in the Andes Mountains of Peru

The Sacred Valley of the Incas, or the Urubamba Valley, is a valley in the Andes of Peru, north of the Inca capital of Cusco. It is located in the present-day Peruvian region of Cusco. In colonial documents it was referred to as the "Valley of Yucay". The Sacred Valley was incorporated slowly into the incipient Inca Empire during the period from 1000 to 1400.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aguas Calientes, Peru</span> Town in Cusco, Peru

Machupicchu or Machupicchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes, is a location in Peru situated in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province. It is the seat of Machupicchu District. Machupicchu lies at the Vilcanota River. It is the closest access point to the historical site of Machu Picchu which is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away or about a 90-minute walk. There are many hotels and restaurants for tourists, as well as natural hot baths which gave the town its colloquial Spanish name, Aguas Calientes or hot water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple of the Moon (Peru)</span> Archaeological site in Peru

The Temple of the Moon is an Incan ceremonial temple on Huayna Picchu near Machu Picchu, in Peru. The site is made up of stone masonry and an open-face, shallow cave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wiñay Wayna</span> Archaeological site in Peru

Wiñay Wayna is an Inca ruin along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It is built into a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River. The site consists of upper and lower house complexes connected by a staircase and fountain structures. Above and below the houses the people built areas of agricultural terraces or andenes, which are still visible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inca Bridge</span> Bridge providing access to Machu Picchu in Peru

The Inca Bridge or Inka Bridge refers to one of two places related to access to Machu Picchu, in Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choquequirao</span> Archaeological site in Peru

Choquequirao is an Incan site in southern Peru, similar in structure and architecture to Machu Picchu. The ruins are buildings and terraces at levels above and below Sunch'u Pata, the truncated hill top. The hilltop was anciently leveled and ringed with stones to create a 30 by 50 m platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urubamba Province</span> Province in Cusco, Peru

Urubamba Province is one of thirteen provinces in the Cusco Region in the southern highlands of Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lares trek</span> High-altitude hike in Peru near Machu Picchu

The Lares trek is a two- or three-day high-altitude hike in Cusco, Peru, starting near the village Lares, approximately 40 mi (64 km) north of Cusco and 35 mi (56 km) east of Machu Picchu. The Lares Valley lies in the east of the Urubamba mountain range, traversing part of the Sacred Valley. Reaching the start of the trek requires a bus or van trip of approximately five hours from the village of Lares. The trek route transverses typical Peruvian Andean mountain areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Putucusi</span> Mountain in Peru

Putucusi is a round-shaped mountain located on the opposite side (northeast) of the Urubamba River to Machu Picchu in the Cusco Region of Peru. Reaching approximately 2,560 metres (8,400 ft) above sea level at its peak, the mountain offers epic views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding Urubamba River valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machupicchu District</span> District in Cusco, Peru

Machupicchu is one of seven districts of the Urubamba Province in Peru. The village of Machupicchu is the seat or capital of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inti Punku</span> Archaeological site in Peru

Inti Punku or Intipunku is an archaeological site in the Cusco Region of Peru that was once a fortress of the sacred city, Machu Picchu. It is now also the name of the final section of the Incan Trail between the Sun Gate complex and the city of Machu Picchu. It was believed that the steps were a control gate for those who enter and exited the Sanctuary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inca Trail to Machu Picchu</span> Ancient trail in Peru

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a hiking trail in Peru that terminates at Machu Picchu. It consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata, Classic, and One Day. Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing Warmiwañusqa. Located in the Andes mountain range, the trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain. The two longer routes require an ascent to beyond 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) above sea level, which can result in altitude sickness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patallacta</span> Archaeological site in Peru

Patallacta, Llactapata or Q'ente Marka is an archaeological site in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. It is situated southeast of the site Machu Picchu, at the confluence of the rivers Cusichaca and Vilcanota on a mountain named Patallacta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intihuatana, Urubamba</span> Archaeological site in Peru

Intihuatana at the archaeological site of Machu Picchu is a notable ritual stone associated with the astronomic clock or calendar of the Inca in South America. Machu Picchu was thought to have been built c. 1450 by the Sapa Inca Pachacuti as a country estate. In the late 16th century, the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo and the clergy destroyed those Intihuatana which they could find. They did so as they believed that the Incas' religion was a blasphemy and the religious significance of the Intihuatana could be a political liability. The Intihuatana of Machu Picchu was found intact by Bingham in 1911, indicating that the Spanish conquerors had not found it. Intihuatana was damaged on September 8, 2000 when a crane being used in an ad shoot toppled over and chipped off a piece of the granite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intihuatana</span>

Intihuatana is a ritual stone in South America associated with the astronomic clock or calendar of the Inca. Its name is derived from the local Quechua language. The most notable Intihuantana is an archaeological site located at Machu Picchu in the Sacred Valley near Machu Picchu, Peru. The name of the stone is derived from Quechua: inti means "sun", and wata- is the verb root "to tie, hitch (up)". The Quechua -na suffix derives nouns for tools or places. Hence inti watana is literally an instrument or place to "tie up the sun", often expressed in English as "The Hitching Post of the Sun".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warmi Wañusqa</span> Mountain pass in Peru

Warmi Wañusqa is a mountain pass in the Cusco Region in Peru. It is located in the Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. Warmi Wañusqa lies on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, southwest of the archaeological site of Patallaqta. It is situated at a height of 4,200 metres (13,780 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runkuraqay</span> Archaeological site in Peru

Runkuraqay or Runku Raqay is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. It is situated southeast of the archaeological site Machu Picchu and south of the Vilcanota river. The ruins lie on the southern slope of the mountain Runkuraqay near the Runkuraqay pass, northeast of the archaeological site Sayacmarca and southeast of the site Qunchamarka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qunchamarka</span> Archaeological site in Peru

Qunchamarka is an archaeological site in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District, southwest of the mountain Runkuraqay. It lies between the archaeological sites Sayaqmarka and Phuyupatamarka on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a protected area in Peru covering over 35,000 hectares. It includes the natural environment surrounding the Machu Picchu archaeological site, located in the rugged cloud forest of the Yungas on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes and along both banks of the Urubamba River, which flows northwest in this section.

References

  1. ↑ "Huayna Picchu". Peakbagger. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. ↑ escale.minedu.gob.pe - UGEL map of the Urubamba Province (Cusco Region)
  3. ↑ "Wayna Picchu: How to climb the mountain behind Machu Picchu". Années de Pèlerinage. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  4. ↑ Wright, Ruth M. & Valencia Zegarra, Alfredo. (2004) The Machu Picchu Guidebook. Revised edition. Boulder, CO:Johnson Books.
  5. ↑ Teofilo Laime Ajacopa, Diccionario Bilingüe Iskay simipi yuyayk'ancha, La Paz, 2007 (Quechua-Spanish dictionary): wayna - adj. s. m. Joven. Hombre que está en la juventud.pikchu - s. Pirámide. Sólido puntiagudo de varias caras. || Cono. Ch'utu.
  6. ↑ Diccionario Quechua - Español - Quechua, Academía Mayor de la Lengua Quechua, Gobierno Regional Cusco, Cusco 2005: wayna - s. Joven, mozo, adolescente, hombre de 18 a 30 años. SINÓN; q'aqo.pikchu - s. Geog. Pirámide. Cerro o prominencia de base ancha que termina en puntas afiladas.Waynapikchu - s. Arqueol. (Cerro o pico joven) Grupo arqueológico ubicado en la cresta del cerro del mismo nombre, ...Waynapikchu - s. Zool. (Oncideres poecila Bates) Escarabajo serruchador. Orden coleóptera. Familia cerambyeidae. Escarabajos pequeños o grandes, aplanados o cilíndricos con antenas largas, pinzas bucales poderosas que cortan ramas de naranjos, paltos y cacaoteros. || Bot. (Galactia speciosa) Planta herbácea de la zona de ceja de selva.
  7. ↑ Elex, Peter. "machu picchu" . Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hiking Huayna Picchu: The Complete Guide". Cachi Life. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  9. ↑ "The Temple of the Moon". Peru Culture. Archived from the original on 2011-03-13. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  10. ↑ The great cavern or the Temple of the Moon of Huayna Picchu. El Comercio, 20.6.2011
  11. ↑ Herzog, Werner (2003). Cronin, Paul (ed.). Herzog on Herzog . ISBN   0-571-20708-1.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.