Why is Machu Picchu Important?
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on February 2, 2021 by James Bustamante
There is a lot of chatter about the Inca city. Most of the conversation always references the hikes to Machu Picchu but many want to know why is Machu Picchu important in the first place?
So Why is Machu Picchu important? Because it is an ancient Inca city rediscovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural and natural heritage site in 1983 and one of the Seven wonders of the new world in 2007.
This ancient stone citadel was also important to the Inca because it was a sanctuary where only members of the highest social class would be allowed to enter.
Let’s go into detail about why each of these reasons makes Machu Picchu such an important site.
Machu Picchu The Important Re-Discovery
Ok so let’s start at the beginning. The place known as Machu Picchu was “discovered” by anthropologies, researchers, and all around adventurer Hiram Bingham in the year 1911. He didn’t really discover the site though.
The locals already knew it was there under several inches of cloud forest vegetation. What Hiram Bingham did was enable the funding to study these Inca ruins through his various connections.
These would include The National Geographic Society, Yale University, and of course the government of Peru to even allow such an expedition. This location was very well hidden.
At the time it must have been something out of a storybook. Imagine going out into the jungle to explore an ancient city that is said to be above the clouds.
Even now, getting to Machu Picchu takes a bit of work and travel time but it is nothing compared to the importance of Hiram Bingham’s expedition.
Machu Picchu’s Important Purpose
The city of Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century. There are many theories as to what the use for this hidden city was. It is nestled at the top of a mountain between the Andes in the middle of a cloud forest after all.
It was definitely not an easy place to reach for anyone. Machu Picchu seems to have been built as a center of worship to the Inca gods as well as a way to study astronomy.
The Incas were very dependent on the sun, the stars, and the moon in order to correctly plan their yearly harvest.
There are various temples in the city that are dedicated to making offerings, having ceremonies, and even the occasional sacrifice in order to have a good harvest.
Why is Machu Picchu Important to the Inca?
Machu Picchu is important to the locals because it was a resting place for the royal family of the Inca Pachacutec, the founder of the entire empire known as the Tahuantinsuyo.
For years many have believed that the city of the Inca was not just a type of summer property for the Inca royalty but also the mausoleum for Pachacutec.
Machu Picchu was important to the Inca because only high ranking members of the tribe would be allowed in. Think of it this way, The Incas were already the most high-ranking tribe in the entire continent at the time.
To be allowed into Machu Picchu meant you were basically royalty of the highest caliber. The stone city would only harbor around 200 – 300 people at a time.
The stone city was an important place for the Inca. It was a city that had plazas, various temples, storage rooms for food, waterways, canals, precincts, and plazas.
There are different floors and entire neighborhoods within Machu Picchu. This city located on the top of a mountain to this day still has the beautiful Inca terraces where they grew certain crops.
These 700 terraces were used in agriculture and were fed via a very complex system of waterways.
The Important Wildlife in Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is important due to the local flora and fauna that reside in the region. The surrounding landscapes house over 400 species of birds alone.
If we dwell deeper into animal life, we find a variety of reptiles and various species of fish living in the nearby river and streams. Insect life is very vibrant as well with over 700 species of butterflies.
Machu Picchu’s Importance to The World
Machu Picchu is important because it has been considered as one of the most important and impressive heritage sites in the world.
This Inca city is located in a tropical cloud forest, it sits on the very top of a mountain at over 2,430 meters above sea level, which is around 8,000 feet for our USA travelers.
So what other reasons answer the question Why is Machu Picchu important? Well, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural and natural heritage site in 1983 and one of the Seven wonders of the new world in 2007.
Ever since receiving the illustrious inscription tourism to this Inca marvel has multiplied several times making it one of the most visited ancient ruins in the world.
There are people from all corners of the world visiting the citadel of the Inca via train or in some cases hiking through the Andes.
Machu Picchu’s Importance to The Local Economy
Machu Picchu is the one destination that all arriving tourists want to visit. It drives thousands of people to travel to Peru every year and in the process, they also visit other destinations this country has to offer.
This provides a cultural vacation where travelers can learn about the Inca as well as other local cultures. It is also important to mention that many locals depend heavily on international tourism.
There are entire industries that rely on groups coming to visit the Inca marvel. Machu Picchu provides jobs for locals in the hospitality sector as well as porters, tour guides, photographers, and many more.
It is a fact that many of these workers live in the villages outside the city of Cusco where, traditionally, they would tend to their fields and raise livestock.
Machu Picchu’s tourism provides in a month what they would normally make in a year. So remember the next time you ask: why is Machu Picchu important?
There are more than enough reasons to consider the stone city one of the most important destinations on earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who discovered Machu Picchu?
Hiram Bingham explored Machu Picchu along with a team but they did not discover the city, it was already a well-known location for the locals. Hiram Bingham did lead the expedition to unearth the city and provided the contacts as well as the funding to explore this once-forgotten Inca city.
When was Machu Picchu discovered?
Machu Picchu was explored in 1911. Machu Picchu was a well-known location for the Peruvian locals so it was not “discovered”, it was explored and made famous by Hiram Bingham.
What was Machu Picchu important for the Inca?
Machu Picchu was a location where only the Inca of the highest status would gather. They would have religious ceremonies, have offerings and sacrifices at the various temples located within. Machu Picchu was also a place to look at the sun and stars so they can program their yearly harvest.
When was Machu Picchu inscribed as a Unesco Cultural site?Machu Picchu was inscribed in 1983 as a Unesco Cultural Heritage site.
When was Machu Picchu put into one of the severn wonders of the new world list?
Machu Picchu was set as one of the seven wonders of the new world in 2007.
Why is Machu Picchu located so high on top of a mountain?
The Incas were firm believers that the higher you were the closer you would be to the gods and the stars. The Inca made sure to build Machu Picchu as high as possible in order to achieve this. This would allow their prayers, offerings, and sacrifices to reach “Hanan Pacha” or heaven much quicker.
