Uxmal is a large pre-Columbian ruined city from the Mayan tribe civilization which lies in the Mexican state of Yucatan. The Yucatan peninsula is an area rich in historical and pre-historical ruins and sites due to the abundance of Mayan settlements that once existed there. Uxmal, pronounced “Oosh-mahl” is one of the most famous ruins as it still contains fully formed buildings which are breathtakingly statuesque and are remarkably built for their era. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uxmal is one of the best restored and maintained pre-civilisation sites in Mexico and certainly one of the most awe-inspiring.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area has been developed and facilities for tourists have been created such as an information centre and toilets but little in the way of archeological excavation has been done for fear of spoiling the ruins. Most of the visible architecture and monuments was created in approximately 700- 1000 AD. Many of the chronicles and hypothesis claim that Uxmal was founded in 500AD by Hun Uitzil Chac Tutul Xiu, as the Xiu dynasty owned much of the land in this area at the time. After the Spanish colonisation of the Yucatan peninsula, Uxmal was still an inhabited place until the 1550s but after that Uxmal was left to ruin. However many of the buildings still exist due to unusually good Mayan building methods and architectural principles. It really is breathtaking to think that these massive structures were built over a thousand years ago without any kinds of technology. Today, you can still see many fully formed buildings, the most impressive being the Pyramid of the Magician. Although folklore states that the building was built by a sorcerer in one night, architectural excavation has discovered that it was actually built in five stages with the entrance facing the setting sun at summer solstice.
Other fantastic ruins include the Governor`s Palace, a fantastic example of stone masonry and sculptures, the Nunnery Quadrangle, and a Ball Court for playing Mayan games. At night time, the centre plays a fantastic display of light and Mayan song focusing on these main buildings which is really an experience not to be missed. There are a number of other significant ruins, many of which are carved with Mayan hieroglyphics which outline the names of rulers and have helped greatly in deciphering the pre-Columbian history of Uxmal.
The Uxmal site itself will take a few hours to explore and there are many facilities inside including a snack bar, shops, gift stores and various local vendors. Uxmal is located 78km south of Merida in the Yucatan area and 15km south-south east from the quaint Mexican town of Muna. Its location means the best way for international tourists to visit is to fly into Cancun airport.
If you would like to thoroughly explore the grounds and take some stunning once-in-a-lifetime photos, then you can stay the night at some of the nearby Puerto del Carmen hotels which cater well to the Uxmal visitor with well-equipped facilities, stylish rooms and fantastic food. This may be a good option as you really do not want to miss the spectacular sound and light show that takes place in the ruins at night.
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