Machu Picchu Common District

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World Travel Guide Home - Antarctica, Alaska, Australia, China, Galapagos, Peru, Maui, Greece, Israel, USA
Peruvian Amazon photos - tropical birds, Amazon rainforest
Peruvian Amazon photos - tropical birds, Amazon rainforest
Cusco, Peru - Sacsayhuaman, Pikillaqta, Tipon, Pisaq, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Q'enqo
Cusco, Peru - Sacsayhuaman, Pikillaqta, Tipon, Pisaq, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Q'enqo
Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Machu Picchu Incan ruins Peru
Map of Peru button
Map of Peru button
Peru Travel FAQ
Peru Travel FAQ
Peru Travel Preparation
Peru Travel Preparation
Sacred Valley, Peru - Ollantaytambo, Moray, Pisac
Sacred Valley, Peru - Ollantaytambo, Moray, Pisac
Peru Panorama Photos
Peru Panorama Photos
Downtown Cusco
Downtown Cusco
Plants and Scenery in the Amazon River Basin
Plants and Scenery in the Amazon River Basin
Accommodations in the Amazon River Basin
Accommodations in the Amazon River Basin
Fish, lizards, and other miscellaneous animals of the Amazon River Basin
Fish, lizards, and other miscellaneous animals of the Amazon River Basin
Parrots, Macaws, and other birds of the Amazon River Basin
Parrots, Macaws, and other birds of the Amazon River Basin
Butterflies and other Bugs of the Amazon River Basin
Butterflies and other Bugs of the Amazon River Basin
Getting around in the Amazon River Basin
Getting Around in the Amazon River Basin
Mammals of the Amazon River Basin
Mammals of the Amazon River Basin
Quenqo Incan ruins outside of Cusco, Peru
Sacsaywaman / Sacsayhuaman Incan ruins atop Cusco, Peru
Sacsaywaman / Sacsayhuaman Incan ruins atop Cusco, Peru
Tambomachay Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Tambomachay Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Tipon Incan fountain ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Tipon Incan fountain ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Pikillaqta Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Pikillaqta Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Puca Pucara Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Puca Pucara Incan ruins outside Cusco, Peru
Quenqo Incan ruins outside of Cusco, Peru
Moray Incan agricultural experimental grounds, Sacred Valley Peru
Ollantaytambo Royal Incan ruins along Urubamba River, Peru
Ollantaytambo Royal Incan ruins along Urubamba River, Peru
Pisac Incan ruins in the Sacred Vallley Outside Cusco along Urubamba River, Peru
Pisac Incan ruins in the Sacred Vallley Outside Cusco along Urubamba River, Peru
Road out of Cusco and into the Sacred Valley
Road out of Cusco and into the Sacred Valley
Moray Incan agricultural experimental grounds, Sacred Valley Peru
Scenic views from Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Scenic views from Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Watchman's Hut at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Watchman's Hut at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Wayna Picchu hike overlooking Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Wayna Picchu hike overlooking Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Common District housing in Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Common District housing in Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Machu Picchu spring-fed fountains, Peru
Machu Picchu spring-fed fountains, Peru
Main lawn at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Main lawn at Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Royal sector of Machu PIcchu Incan ruins, Peru
Royal sector of Machu PIcchu Incan ruins, Peru
Train to Machu Picchu Incan Ruins, Peru
Train to Machu Picchu Incan Ruins, Peru
Brief History of the Inca Empire
Brief History of the Inca Empire
The Machu Picchu Common District was that part of Machu Picchu where the hired help lived. They had some of the more spectacular views of the place.
Temples of Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Temples of Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru

Bromeliads grow outside a hut in the common district.

bromeliad_garden
A bench in front of a large rock in the common district

common_district_bench
From the main lawn you can only see a few tops of huts in the common district.

common_district_from_the_lawn

At the Temple of the Condor there is a small underground area. Hiram Bingham, discoverer of Machu Picchu, thought this was a prison area, but it is not clear.

condor_cave_entrance
A closer look at the vaults beneath the Temple of the Condor.

condor_cave_insides
The rounded triangular stone in the ground outlined by rope is the head of the Condor. Some of the vaults can be seen just beyond.

condor_head

The head and left wing of the Condor.

condor_head_and_wing
Intimachay is a little hard to find when you are in the Machu Picchu common district. Apparently this small cave has a window that is aligned with the winter solstice so that light falls within 10 days before and after Dec 21.

intimachay_entrance
These purple wildflowers were growing right outside the entrance to Intimachay.

purple_mountain_wildflowers

A typical view of the residences in the Common District. It was a lot of fun getting lost in here. Quite an enchanting maze.

residences
Temple of the Condor in the Common District. You can see the head on the ground and the two great stone wings protruding out vertically and to the right in this picture.

temple_of_the_condor
The incredible view from the Common District. I'd say that you'd be lucky to be a commoner living here.

typical_view

When you walk through the entrance to Machu Picchu, you have to meander down an obstructed path to the Terrace Caretaker Huts. Before this point you still can't see anything of Machu Picchu. Then you walk through the hut and this is the spectacular, literally jaw-dropping view that hits you like a frying pan to the head. Wayna/Huayna Picchu is the peak trying to rise out of the upper left-hand corner of this shot. Also notice the lone tree. Somewhere in the jumble of buildings is the House of the Condor. And if you find the tallest structure toward the top center, and then head diagonally down and to the right, you'll see the bromeliad plant of another photo.

view_from_entrance
This is the right side of the previous image. It is filled with steep agriculatural terraces and steep stairs on the lower left of the picture. The smooth rock face on the left with all the people is easily visible in the previous photo. Again, the mountain in the back is Wayna/Huanya Picchu.

view_from_entrance_2
Another spectacular mountain view through one of the many windows.

window_with_a_view

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