Situated high in the Andes Mountains in Peru is the city of Machu Picchu. On top of a ridge looking over the Urabamba gorge, it really seems to hang over the edge. Machu Picchu means “manly peak” and was built in the 1400s as a royal and religious retreat.

The most important find at Machu Picchu is the Intihuatana, a column of rock rising from a block of stone the size of a grand piano. Intihuatana literally means “for tying the sun” and was used during winter solstice rituals. A priest would hold a ceremony to tie the sun to the stone to prevent it from disappearing altogether. This Intihuatana is very rare owing to the fact that other examples were destroyed by Spanish explorers.

Machu Picchu is still a centre for spirituality with many Peruvian shamans and mystics using the site. They claim that the city is full of profound energies that are more powerful with the summer solstice and full moon. There are not many visitors who walk away without feeling the sense of mystery and power of this amazing place.