Main Structures of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, the 15th-century Inca citadel in Peru, comprises precisely engineered structures integrated with the rugged Andean topography. Principal sectors and buildings:

Ceremonial Core

• Intihuatana – "Hitching Post of the Sun"; carved rock pillar for astronomical/ritual use.
• Temple of the Sun – Semi-circular tower over a natural rock cave; solstice alignments; finest imperial Inca masonry.
• Temple of the Three Windows – Three trapezoidal windows framing sacred peaks; symbolic of Inca cosmology.
• Principal Temple – Large rectangular structure with central niche; adjacent Sacristy with stone "bench."

Residential & Elite Areas

• Royal Palace / King's Group – Largest residential compound; finest stonework; thought to house the Sapa Inca.
• Royal Mausoleum – Beneath Temple of the Sun; carved rock with niches for mummies.
• Priests' Quarters – Near ceremonial plaza.

Public & Functional Spaces

• Main Plaza (Central Plaza) – Open grassy area separating agricultural and urban sectors.
• Torreón (Tower) – Semi-circular tower above Temple of the Sun; possible observatory.
• Agricultural Terraces – Hundreds of andenes for crops, erosion control, slope stabilization.
• Water System – 16 fountains, channels, drains fed by spring; still functional.

Peripheral

• Intipunku (Sun Gate) – Entrance from Inca Trail; panoramic sunrise view.
• Huayna Picchu & Machu Picchu Mountain – Overlooking peaks with ritual platforms.

Construction used ashlar masonry (no mortar), seismic-resistant techniques, and sophisticated drainage. The site was never found by Spaniards, preserving its integrity.