The forbidden ancient city Machu Picchu was a lost city for more than 100 years. It was believed that the city remained unknown to the world until July 24, 1911 when Yale professor Hiram Bingham III discovered the ancient Inca city. This day is marked in the history as the “Discovery Day of the Ancient Inca City Machu Picchu".
On 24th July, 2011, Peru celebrated the 100th anniversary of the date -- though just how much of a "discovery" was being celebrated is a long-standing matter of debate.
Most of the scientists are not unanimous with this fact that Bingham was the first person to discover the ancient city during his jungle rides. According to them, the city was known to others long before him. The imperial city, located at 7,900 feet, was probably first found by a Peruvian explorer. Some even argue that two Germans, a British and a Frenchman accessed the site before Bingham did.
The real history of Machu Picchu is still shrouded in mystery, there are lots of mists relating to its establishment, and some said it was a sacred religious site while to others it was an Imperial winter retreat.
One of the seven wonders of the world Machu Picchu “The Lost City of the Incas" attracts a capped number of 1,800 visitors a day.
Take a look on the ancient historical Incas city of the world:
A view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco in the November, 2003 file photo. The Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan and Brazil's statue of Christ the Redeemer have been chosen to be among the modern-day seven Wonders of the World, the organizers of the competition said on July 7, 2007. The other four are Peru's Machu Picchu, the mountain settlement that symbolises the Incan empire, Mexico's Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in India. REUTERSTourists rest near Inca's citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco December 2, 2010. Peru will celebrate on 24th July 2011, the first centenary of the discovery of Machu Picchu with a huge exhibition after an agreement with Yale University to return thousands of artifacts taken from the archaeological site in the early 1900s, the Ministry of Culture said on Thursday. REUTERSWindows of Machu Picchu citadel are seen in Cuzco November 3, 2010. Peru said on Friday that Yale University has agreed to return thousands of artifacts taken from the the Machu Picchu archeological site in the early 1900s, and the pact could end a bitter controversy. REUTERSA llama stands in front of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco May 29, 2009. Picture taken May 29, 2009. REUTERSTourists touch the Intihuatana solar clock in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco as part of a belief that they will receive good energies from it December 2, 2010. Peru will celebrate on 24th July 2011, the first centenary of the discovery of Machu Picchu with a huge exhibition after an agreement with Yale University to return thousands of artifacts taken from the archaeological site in the early 1900s, the Ministry of Culture said on Thursday.REUTERSThe site at Machu Picchu where archaelogists believe a state of an Inca emperor once stood.REUTERSFile photo of the Inca citadel Machu Picchu in the Andean city of Cusco. Peru responded March 8, 2001 at suggestions by Japanese scientists that its world famous Inca city could collapse at any time, saying it had survived 500 years and people should stay calm.REUTERSA tourist takes pictures through a window at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco December 2, 2010. Peru will celebrate on July 2011, the first centenary of the discovery of Machu Picchu with a huge exhibition after an agreement with Yale University to return thousands of artifacts taken from the archaeological site in the early 1900s, the Ministry of Culture said on Thursday. REUTERSArtists perform during an Inca ceremony called "Tinkay" at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco July 7, 2011. Peru celebrates on Thursday 100 years of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu by U.S. adventurer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu, "The Lost City of the Incas", was elected as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World in July 2007. REUTERSThe Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu became a World Heritage site in 1983. Peru has just 11 sites on the World Heritage List, while Italy has 47.REUTERSA view shows part of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco November 3, 2010. Peru said on Friday that Yale University has agreed to return thousands of artifacts taken from the the Machu Picchu archeological site in the early 1900s, and the pact could end a bitter controversy. Picture taken November 3, 2010. REUTERSA view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco in this November, 2003 file photo. The Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan and Brazil's statue of Christ the Redeemer have been chosen to be among the modern-day seven Wonders of the World, the organizers of the competition said on July 7, 2007. The other four are Peru's Machu Picchu, the mountain settlement that symbolises the Incan empire, Mexico's Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in India. REUTERSA aerial view shows the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cuzco November 3, 2010. Peru said on Friday that Yale University has agreed to return thousands of artifacts taken from the Machu Picchu archeological site in the Andes in the early 1900s, and the pact could end a bitter controversy. Picture taken November 3, 2010. REUTERSTourist visit the Machu Picchu ruins, April 1, 2010. The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was reopened after heavy rains cut off tourist access to the ruins for two months. REUTERSForeign tourists take photos of a mountain llama with the peak of Huayna Picchu looming in the backdround, at Peru's Inca citadel of Machu Picchu near Cuzco, November 11, 2003. Unbridled growth in tourism is irrevocably damaging the United Nations World Heritage Site and its surrounding attractions, destroying one of the world's premier archeological sites, some planners say. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says it may place Machu Picchu on its list of endangered sites, a "moral sanction" against the Peruvian government's handling of the monuments.REUTERS
