Yaxchilan(means Green stone) in Chiapas

1. temple

2. Lady Xoc performing blodletting rituals.

3. structure 33

4. Laberynth leading to main plaza

Another great pyramid site of Mayans are in Yaxchilan. Though of lesser grandeur than Palanque but still it hold its mystical aura. But to reach this place from Palanque it takes around 4 hours and one needs to take a boat ride through the river Usumancita which is one of the common borders shared with the neighbouring country of Guatemala. There are crocodiles in the river. The pyramid side is again covered with lush tropical forest. It atkes a little walking to reach the ain temple side. One is welcomed by the vibrant wildlife of the site like howler monkeys and spider monkeys living like old days. This site was build around 200-900 A.D It has 86 known buildings and to enter one need to cross the labyrinth. It has 3 main sites: Great Plaza, Small Acropolis and Large Acropolis all of which are so made with staircases and ramps so as to mix well with the surrounding limestone hills. One can climb these levels of levels of buildings to explore the architecture. The Lacandons(Mayan natives) still come here to worship their ancestors and Gods. King Jaguar Shield,his 2 wives and son were the main rulers. This place was unique to have Lady Xoc who is one of the wives of the king depicted in several stellas doing rituals. While exploring the site one reaches the top of the pyramid which gives a good view of the surrounding forest and can also be used as a perfect meditation spot. This place can truly be considered best in terms of its timelessness and peacefulness.

1. The observatory

2. The castillo or castle

3. Group of 1000 pillars

This is Chichen Itza which is Mayan(Classical Period) pyramid site. Only recently it has been added to the Seven wonders of the world. Like teotihuacan(refer my previous blog) this pyramid is also thought to have different purposes. It used as a religious site and the structure of the pyramids were also made keeping in mind the astrological or astronomical events like Equinox. The pyramid is thought to have represented Mayan Calendar and during equinox there is shadow play of ascending and descending KuKulKan(Serpent God) in its staircase for which this site earned its Seven wonder title. The site has 8 major architechture marvel namely Pyramid of kukulkan, Ball court, group of 1000 pillars,El Caracol or the observatory site, The Nunnery, Temple of Jaguars and 2 cenotes which are considered to have witnessed many human sacrifices as offering to God. Like all mesoamerican pyramids the main Palace or Tomb of Kukulkan has larger pyramids built over smaller pyramids. During excavation an inside chamber was found to have the statue of the Mayan rain God Chac Mool and a Jaguar throne with inlaids of Jade. The pyramid is step pyramid with 91 steps at 4 sides and total number of stairs add to 365 representing Mayan calendar year or Haab. It is widely believed that Mayans used to desert civilizations and cities according their own will and the calender specifications. Caracol has inner stairways resembling snail. Its windows are oriented at 4 cardinal directions and also according to equinox. Mayans were obsessed with astronomical observations and had built pyramids according to such events.The Ball Courts were seen in almost all mesoamerican pyramids. It has great acoustics. Sounds at one end can be heard at the other end of 40mt ball court. Only the aristocrats were allowed to attend and the losing team captain was either to believed to have been sacrificed or the winning team is given some animal sacrifice. It was prestigious game at that time. The 1000 pillars site depicts 1000 warriors and it is very similar to Toltec pyramid in Tula.

Mayans had their own writing in the form of glyphs and lots of information were gathered from these glyphs written on the stone tablets.Chichen Itza is located only at 3 hours drive from the city of Cancun. It is one of the largest pyramid site in Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.There is light and sound show at 7:00p.m

Some pyramids of Mexico

Its been 5 years that we are staying in Mexico. We had visited many tourist places during this time which includes some of the well know pyramid sites which dates back to the Aztec or Mayan civilizations and some are protected by the government till date .Mexico had a vibrant history thriving with civilizations in its different parts which had left indelitible mark on this earth with its architecture, culture,language,dress,food,business and so on and so forth. As per the history books the historians had divided its studies among 4 main periods:1)The Pre Classical Period(3500BC-300A.D).2)The Classical period(300A.D-900A.d).3)Post Classical period(900-1521A.d).4)The Spanish Conquest(1521-1810A.D).The MAyan civilization was dated to the Classical period and the Aztecs to the Post Classical periods.But there are numerous significant cultures like Olmecs,Toltecs,Teotihuacans etc who are responsible for shaping up the powerful civilizations like Maya and Aztec.The very first pyramid among them which I had visited was in Teotihuacan.

Since it is very near to Mexico city where I live I got chances to visit it 5 times or so and it always mesmerized me. It still beholds the aura and grandeur of its time.Its a UNESCO heritage site. The culture and architecture of teotihuacans are thought to have been influenced by the Olmec people which is considered mother civilization of the Mesoamerica(It refers to approximately todays Central America) .It has 2 big pyramids named Pyramid of Sun and Pyramid of moon and also there is Temple of Plumed Serpent God called Quetzalcóatl.This civilization also worshipped rain god name Tlaloc.The pyramids unlike Egypt are not meant to preserve kings or aristocracy after death but is mainly considered as religious sites. But here some rich human graves were found after excavations. Human sacrfices were also part of their religious practice and it is believed that they had Ball Game(juego de pelota) where the defeated teams were sacrificed. The pyramids site has 2 Big pyramids and also houses made for the people on 2 sides of the main avenue of the Deads as it is named. There are still tablets found with coloured paintings of Jaguars and other animals and birds.The city continued to have flourished till 7 or 8th century A.D and it was believed to have 200,000 population at its peak. Pyramid of the sun is the second largest pyramid in volume in the world.However its still unknown why such a flourishing city was suddenly abandoned by the city dwellers. There are many theories of drought,outside invasion or internal conflicts related to it.They didnt have any writing systems and most of the references of this city was found in Mayan writings which had adopted many of the Teotihuacan architecture techniques and styles.

The site has a museum which has a big replica of the pyramid site and also preserves figurines and skeletons found during the excavations.