The Temple of Kukulcan Tour

The Temple of Kukulcan Tour

Chichen Itza (which translates “at the mouth of the well of the Itza” ) was once one of the largest Maya cities. The Itza were an ethnic lineage that ruled the northern peninsula. They used to be seafaring people but during the 8th century they settled down at a huge well which they called Wuk Yabnal (Abundance Place). Later on, their city became known as Chichen Itza. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited archaeological sites in all Mexico. About 1.2 million people visit each year. The ruins are maintained by Mexico’s National Institute of Antropology and History. This pre-columbian city is located in the eastern part of Yucatan State in Mexico, about 117 miles west of Cancun. The terrain in the northern Yucatan Peninsula is arid but there are rivers running underground which provided vast amounts of water. Those rivers must have been the reason that made the area so attractive for settlers. Chichen Itza used to cover an area of at least 5 square kilometres and was home to the most diverse Maya population (an estimated 50.000 Maya lived there in its heyday), which may explain the richness of the architectural variety we can admire nowadays. The buildings in Chichen Itza are grouped by architectonic sets, next to each other but separated by low walls. The most famous of these sets are the Great North Platform, The Ossario Group and the Central Group. The whole site hosts many stone buildings in different states of preservation. Some of them have been restored and others are the original remains.

The moment you step in, you will recognize a steeped pyramid; the most dramatic constuction in Chichen Itza. This impressive 79 feet monument is the Temple of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo. It is located in the Great North Platform area. This construction was named after Kukulcan, the Feathered Serpent God which the Toltecs and Aztecs also adored but called Quetzacoatl instead. The Temple dates to around AD. 850 and was built upon strict astronomical guidelines. Many time cycles are represented in the pyramid. There are exactly 365 steps, accounting for each day of the year. Each of the four sides of the pyramid has 91 steps. The top is the 365th step. 52 inset panels on each face make for the number of weeks in the whole cycle of a Calendar Round. There are18 platforms, which equal the number of months in the Maya calendar, each divided into nine levels. All levels of the pyramid are aligned in such a way that during the spring and fall equinoxes (March 21st and September 22nd, respectively) the afternoon sun lights up the shape of a giant serpent coming down the steps and reaching a stone serpent. This event attracts so many people that sometimes the shadow is difficult to make out. However, the serpent can still be seen on the very first few days before and after those phenomena, when the place is not so packed. The Maya’s astronomy was so accurate that they were even able to predict solar eclipses. A huge and very sophisticated observatory remains there still today.

Reaching the top level of the Temple one can get a breathtaking view of Chichen Itza. However it is no longer possible to do that. Archaeologists had long been warning about the erosion caused by the millions of people that had already climbed it. But the decision to close it off came in 2005 after an elderly tourist tumbled when reaching the final steps to the top, fell to the ground and died.Other highlights of this ancient city are the Principal Ball Court (the largest in the Americas) where fierce competitions were held, El Caracol (“the snake”), Tzompantli and the old city, or Chichen Viejo.

Chichen Itza is not only interesting but also mysterious. During the 1400s, the Itza people left for the jungle, leaving behind amazing works of astronomical and worshiping architecture. The reason why the fled is still unknown. There are hypotheses that suggest that droughts exhausted the soil, or that conquests forced the inhabitants to leave but that’s all. Only speculations. May we be able to solve the mystery some day? Who knows. The truth is the Temple of Kukulcan is an awe-inspiring place and is absolutely worth a visit! And try to do it during 2012 because this is the year when the Maya calendar predicts the Apocalypse will occur. No one can say it will surely happen. Though, my recommendation is go visit now... just in case!

Most people visiting these ruins are actually staying in Cancun or Merida, approximately two hours away. There are buses loading and unloading tourists back and forth from those cities permanently, usually as part of organized tours. If you’re staying nearby, you may want to visit Chichen Itza early in the morning when it’s not so hot (it gets really hot during noon time and until around 4 p.m.) and crowded. The ruins are open 24/7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entrance costs US$10 (worth every penny) and includes the Sounds and Light show which starts at 8 p.m.. You have to pay an extra fee of 3,50 for using video cameras. There are multilingual guides so anybody can enjoy guided tours and learn more about the mythical Chichen Itza. Go and find out yourself why it has become one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

By Daniela Tkach