The famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

High hopkurad in the Andes at an altitude of 2350m and overshadowed by a 300-m peak, lies an old Mountain. This year, morning mists are regulated in this old Web site to keep complex during uncertain in mystery. Covered by woodland area and overgrowth of dense vegetation, remained hidden from the outside world until 1911, when archaeologists named Hiram Bingham, discovered "officially" on the site. "Old Hill was home to the old Inca Fortress better day called Machu Picchu.

Believed to have been built by the Incan ruler, Pachacuti Inka Yapancui, Sanctuary of Machu Picchu overlooks the deep valley of the Urubamba river and covers an area of 5 square km's it is part of the larger Machu Picchu natural, extends over an area of 32,600 hectares and is home to many archeological wonders and a myriad of magnificent flora and fauna.

While the ruins of Machu Picchu can be reached by train and a quick bus ride, is the best way to arrive at the ruins, along the famous Inca trail.

Built by the inkas in about 500AD, covers the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, only a small part of the old road network, which spans 23000km's and connected over three million miles of territory. The Trail was built block by block along the spine of the Andes, linking southern Ecuador to central Chile.

Among the lists of the world's famous Inca Trail hikes is without a doubt a top ranking, so popular in fact that a need to reserve a place on the trail at least three months in advance. Until 2005, had multiplied the number of trekkers on the control with the result that the paths were overcrowded and dance with litter and garbage. It got so bad that the Government is finally up and introduced a limit of 500 trekkers per day, guides and porters. The result is that the road now, but the overwhelming trekked the feeling of having increased to Piccadilly square on a Saturday morning.

On a site called Km82 Urubamba river, at about 170 tourists gather every day, going to the 53 km, famous Andean trail to the ruins of Machu Picchu. For many modern man path provides an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a lost civilization, but what many don't realize, is that the way opened a window to exquisite plant life, a myriad of old Incan ruins and an insight into some of the old traditions.

Walks along the well worn paths, trail heads through small villages where the inhabitants grow corn to make their "Chicha" or maize beer. Here, weary porters carrying heavy loads, stop order to buy a Mug of pinkish brew their thirst is turned off. But first they Pour a little of the Earth as a dedication to the earth goddess, Pacha Mama.

It is the ancient tradition of dedicated worship of Quechuan people in this region, the implementation of a tradition which was anchored in the Inca civilization, which occupied the area lives.

Settlement at the side of the River Urubamba, by deep valleys and high passes, trail heads through some of the most picturesque scenery. hillsides covered in red splashes of bromeliads, tree covered in light purple, Fuchsia, endless expanses of grassland Puna and a myriad of Hummingbird darting establishing the sweet nectar of bright orange flowers Japan bushes along the paths.

Shortly after heading up the first of several passports if you look at the ruins of the city of Llactapata or on the Hillside. The rumor is that the walls of these ruins contain the secret was a stash of buried gold. Perhaps it is the way the sunlight plays with Golden grasslands as it shines through the clouds, or simply the lure of a mystery, but many are mesmerised by the Next peer into this old fortress.

And so it continues down the trail towards the most challenging part of the trail-"the dead woman's Pass" so called because from the top, the mountain is shown as a woman lying on her side. Breathe in the thin air as puffs to the top of the pass, once not help but marvel at the enormous effort into building this network of Inca civilization.

As the trail rises up workouts, falls in the valleys below and heads through tunnels carved by the solid rock, one soon finds himself in the cloud forest. Here among the ruins of Sayakmarka and Conchamarka, lichens and air plants still hanging on trees and rocks suck under the weight of mosses growing up to one meter deep. And in the mists that scrolls through these valleys, the Inca Trail protects one of the most amazing sights. more than 250 species of orchids Japan these paths, the minimum is, its "Pleurothalis acris measuring only 2 mm in length. Dragon orchids, orchid, Epidendrum bats face and Maxilaria to name but a few. Begonia grow much, create a kaleidoscope of color when approaching the ruins of Phuyupatamarka, aptly meaning ' Town above the clouds. "

Leave these ruins behind, down the trail head an infinite combination of stone steps and paths along a section newly discovered and are opened to the public in 1985. This trail had remained so well hidden in almost 600 years makes one wonder what other mysteries are hidden in the dense bush. But perhaps it hid a sacred ruin, is considered by some to be more beautiful than the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. ofWiay Wayna ruins. "Forever Young" so, are these ruins of the upper and lower living area ceremonial, are connected by a long flight. Next to these, and covered by a magnificent waterfall and back drop crashing woodland area, is a huge sweeping Amphitheatre of agricultural terraces, now home to the domestic Alpaca grazing in the morning light.

But the taste of tradition and history that is obtained during these three days on the trail is insignificant compared to the marvel that is waiting for the happy trekkers on the last day of trail.

People queue at the entry gate of trail at 05 h 00, waiting in anticipation for the gate to open my excitement of early morning balloon. The final 40 minute trek to the Inti Punku, the gate of the future and together with the call of birds wake up to the day, one arrives at the sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Shrouded with a blanket of the morning mist, a look at this magnificent complex and watches as ascending gently the sun touches the Gallery throw them in the morning light, open the ruins to modern man eyes. Deep in the valley below, the Urubamba river, pounding through the Valley as ill-treatment heart of Mother goddess. And behind the ruins of this "old Hill Huayna Picchu is rising sharply, as a nose of Pachamama as she gazes at the sky.

Some say that the city was built for the nobility, while others say it was a Centre for astronomical observations. Built on a hjässan mound in the center of the complex, is the incredible Intihuatana, under "hitching post of the Sun", a block so carefully that the sun shines directly above the pillar cast no shadow at all at midday on 21st March and September 21st. Complex is home to a myriad of stone walls, rooms and ceremonial areas, farming terraces and dwelling areas. Intricately built many of the structures is blocking that no mortar was used to keep the massive together, some weighing as much as 50 tonnes.

From a city for 1200 persons, approximately 300,000 tourists embark on an annual pilgrimage to the ruins, of which about 12,000 arrives in the old Inca Trail. But just as the glaciers of Kilimanjaro characteristics by warming, increased levels of rain is threatening to destroy the very essence of the ruins of Machu Picchu.

When protected by Pachamama mysteriously abandoned and handed over to her forests, lies below its future now in hands of man. Declared a world heritage site in 1983, the sanctuary of Machu Picchu which is now a protected area and UNESCO is committed to ensuring that this ancient Sanctuary remains intact and from ruin and destruction.

Chilean Poet, Pueblo Neruda once wrote, "Machu Picchu is a journey to peace of mind, to eternal fusion cosmos ... a resting place for Butterflies at the heart of the great circle of life. One more miracle, "a miracle that we hope will survive in the history of mankind.