Temples at Machu Picchu

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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
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Map of Peru button
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Peru Travel FAQ
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Peru Travel Preparation
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Sacred Valley, Peru - Ollantaytambo, Moray, Pisac
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Peru Panorama Photos
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Downtown Cusco
Plants and Scenery in the Amazon River Basin
Plants and Scenery in the Amazon River Basin
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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
Several temples sit atop the western slope of Machu Picchu
Temples of Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru
Temples of Machu Picchu Incan ruins, Peru

From Intiwana you can see Machu Picchu, the peak, in the distance and the tiny Watchman's Hut.  Here, a tourist pauses to tie his shoe next to the sun hitching post.  You definitely don't want to trip around here.

breaktime_at_intiwatana

The Sun Hitching Stone at Intiwana.  Nobody is really sure what this special stone was used for, but hitching the sun sounded like a nice legend.

intiwatana_sun_hitching_stone

The view through a window atop Intiwana.

intiwatana_window

Well, I can't remember where in Machu Picchu this picture was taken.  At firsrt I thought it was the Temple of the Three Windows because of the windows' trapezoidal shape.  But that's obviously wrong since not only do the windows not look out anywhere, but there are 4 of them.  If you know where this picture was taken please let me know.

more_windows

This is the view through one of the windows at the Temple of the Three Windows.

one_of_three_windows

The Principle Temple.  Except for the right part ready to collapse, the masonry here is of higher quality than the rest of Machu Picchu.  Notice the convex grooves in the large stones that make up either side.  There is a stone in the floor that points south (we're looking north in this picture).\nThe people beyond are climbing the staircase to Intiwana; you can make out the red bromeliad an the window on top featured in other photos.  Not shown to our immediate right is the Temple of the Three Windows.

principle_temple

It is amazing how steep some of the terraces were.  On top of the terraces you can see Intiwana, and following the stairs down takes you to the Principle Temple.  This picture was taken from the quarry, and you can see a few of its large rocks in the foreground.

steep_intiwatana_terraces

Swallows were buzzing everywhere around Machu Picchu.  It was a rare instance where you could see them standing still.  Apart from the swallows, there wasn't much wildlife to be found around the area.

swallows

The view from the Temple of the Three Windows.  Not bad.

temple_of_three_windows

Looking down from Intiwana you can see a bromeliad growing in the rock at the bottom of the picture.  Just above that and to the left is the Temple of the Three Windows (none of the 3 windows are visible here because they are in the wall on the left).  Just above the bromeliad and to its right is the Principle Temple.  All the scattered rocks in the center/right make up the quarry where it is believed that the Incas got a lot of their construction rocks from.

view_of_principle_temple

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