www.womanthismonth.com 51 January 2013 | The Low-down: The Incan built structure has been deemed “Lost Cities” — unknown until its relatively recent discovery in 1911. It’s no wonder Machu Picchu is Peru’s most-visited site. Dating to the mid1400s, it is a marvel of mortar-free limestone architecture perched on a high plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle. It is tangible evidence of the urban Inca Empire at the peak of its power and achievement. The complex of palaces and plazas, temples and homes may have been built as a ceremonial site, a military stronghold, or a retreat for ruling elites. The ruins lie on a high ridge, surrounded on three sides by the windy, turbulent Urubamba River some 2,000 feet below. X-Factor: Hikers, tourists, and the early explorers describe similar emotions as they climb their way through the Inca Trail. Many call the experience magical. Glancing out from the Funerary Rock Hut on all the temples, fields, terraces and baths seems to take you to another time. Blending in with the hillside itself, many say the area creates a seamless and elegant green paradise, making it a must for anyone who travels to Peru. Despite this great tourist influx, the site manages to retain its air of grandeur and mystery. Best For: The adventurous. Although you can get there via train from Cusco, there is a more daring way to get there. If you aren’t fainthearted, make the trip on foot via a multi-day hiking trail — you’ll travel through deep Andean gullies and enjoy stunning views. Machu Picchu, Peru The Low-down: It’s an uphill-downhill journey of emotions that you will experience when you take a trip to this unique site. You are either floating in a realm of spirituality at Angkor Wat mesmerised by its heathenish aura; or you are sinking into the depths of what could be defined as hell on earth at Tuol Sleng which reeks of the depressing past of the Khmer Rouge. Angkor, in Cambodia’s Northern Province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures and communication routes. With impressive monuments, several different ancient urban plans and large water reservoirs, the site is a unique concentration of features testifying to an exceptional civilisation. X-Factor: Temples such as Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, exemplars of Khmer architecture, are closely linked to their geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance. What is believed to be the world’s largest religious building, the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat is the heart and soul of Cambodia. It is the national symbol, the epicentre of Khmer civilisation and a source of fierce national pride. Soaring skyward and surrounded by a moat that would make its European castle counterparts blush, it is one of the most inspired and spectacular monuments ever conceived by the human mind. Unlike the other Angkor monuments, it was never abandoned to the elements and has been in virtually continuous use since it was built Best For: Art enthusiasts. Angkor Wat is famous for having more than 3,000 beguiling apsaras (heavenly nymphs) carved into its walls. Each of them is unique, and there are 37 different hairstyles to check out. Angkor, Cambodia
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