Deemed an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, the Nazca lines in Peru have for many years now been a mystery to humankind. Its very existence has baffled scientists and lay folks alike with regards to its purpose. Nobody knows really why or how the lines came to be. So what exactly are these mysteriously lines?
The Nazca lines are thought to have been made between 400-650AD. Located in the dry arid Pampas de Juana in the Nazca desert in Peru, the series of lines or what are called as geoglyphs ( artwork etched in the ground that are best viewed from above) are believed to have been created by people of the Nazca culture. Though nobody really knows their real purpose, most agree that there is some religious significance attached to it. Hundreds of these geoglyphs are spread out in an area covering 190 square miles. The largest of the lines is said to extend to a massive 890 feet.
The lines existence though known from the 16th century onwards, interest in them revived only after the 1940’s when historian Paul Kosok chanced upon them while studying irrigation systems in the area. While flying over the Nazca desert, he realized that one of the lines was shaped like a bird. Since then interest in the lines have piqued both among the scientific community and with tourists.
An unchanging dry atmosphere is what has lead to its preservation, we were told. There are all manner of drawings that one can decipher. The artistic people of the Nazca culture drew a variety of designs including numerous animal and human figures. Many others are geometric shapes. They were created through etching the ground.
“ Some say they were created for the gods. The gods can see it from high up in the sky. It is a form of veneration,” a local (dressed in traditional red Peruvian garb) we befriended explained to us outside of a small airfield close to the Nazca lines. We were waiting to go up in a small four to eight seater aircraft to view some of the more recognizable lines.
Of what we read up on later, several explanations have been forwarded with regard to the existence of the lines. Water rituals, fertility symbols, astronomical calendars are some of the many speculations. There is also much awe with how they were created without access to modern technology. Conspiracy and other theories of aliens creating them, Nazca people having access to hot air balloons etc surround the Nazca lines.
With so much mystery surrounding it, we were intrigued enough to check them out for ourselves. For a long time, it was thought that the lines are visible only from high above from an airplane. But it has been discovered that they are also visible from around the top of some of the surrounding hills. If you don’t want to blow your moolah on an airplane ride, you can even drive over to a viewing platform constructed a few kilometers from the airport at the edge of the road.
But to really enjoy the beauty of the Nazca lines, we suggest a plane ride. A plane ride will set you back anywhere between 70-110 USD plus taxes for a 35- 45 minute run. How much you pay depends on the number of people a plane can accommodate. The smaller the plane, the higher the cost. While you can book these at any travel agent in Nazca town, you could also just show at the airport and take your pick from any of the operators conducting the Nazca lines tour. Be sure to check the flight safety record of the company you choose. Crashes are not unheard of. There was a crash as recent as May this year that injured six passengers. You can also arrange for a flight from Ica or Pisco though Nazca is your best bet, the airport naturally servicing a higher volume of passengers.
We were given a time slot on arrival at the airport. After an hour of waiting, we were allowed a four seater plane.This being our first time in a small ( actually tiny) plane, we were both nervous and excited at the same time. It almost looked like we were climbing in to a toy plane. We were given fancy headsets, the pilot spoke to us with to point out the different geoglyphs. After ascending not very high but high enough to make out the patterns on the ground, the pilot did the normal loop covering the monkey, the famous humming bird, the astronaut etc. We oohed and ached and gasped in sheer exhilaration. The earthwork are a thing of beauty and you can’t help but wondering how the Nazca people achieved such precision with such gigantic pieces of artwork.
The forty five minutes in air went by all too quickly. With so much to see, our heads constantly craned left and right. So engrossed were we in the lines, that getting back on ground left us with a mild twinge of disappointment. Then again, we were glad we splurged the 100 bucks. It was worth every penny. And though, the Nazca lines are now etched in our memories as permanently as they are on the ground, we resolved that we would come back again someday for more!
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