Tikal , Guatemala, The Mayan Pyramid

My SELECTED Pictures  of Tikal



Tikal  panaroma 

After  10-hour  road trip form Semuc Champey   in curvy mountain  roads we  came to FLores  and  then to the Tikal National park late night,  Woke  up early in the morning at  4:00  AM. Joined the guide at the Tikal Inn  .

This was a   great way  to experience the jungle as it comes alive in the early hours of the morning. Learned about this former Maya citadel, once the largest and most powerful civilization in Meso-America, by exploring this archaeological site .  This was  like  once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to marvel at the majestic pyramids hidden away in the jungle . The pyramid appear magically  form the  early mist in the middle of the  sound of howler monkey , parrots in the jungle.  Tikal literally means   "Places of voices" in Maya.  Even from the Tikal inn  in the Tikal  natinal park it is  4 KM walk  and a hike to  Temple  no 4.

See  my power point   slideshow  and the view graph to learn  the details  of mysterious world of  Maya.   Tikal predated  the Aztec and  theToltec  civiizations  

Laser scanners are much more accurate than older methods of drawings In 2005 UC Berkeley and CyArk used laser scanners and other digital technology to record Tikal and archive the data on the web for public use
Pictures and laser scan records for free on; http://www.cyark.org/projects/tikal 

( note you can also see the work on "Rani ki vav"  super great step well  discovered in my home state  Gujarat, India  

http://www.cyark.org/projects/rani-ki-vav

  see my photos  

Semuc Champey ; Hidden paradise of Guatamela

How can I describe this place without using the words unbelievably impressive…  , this place is unbelievably impressive!

See the Pictures at :


Personally I do not know  any one  who  has  been  to Semuc Champey.  Nor In India, nor in USA. Not  from friends or acquaintance   at work.  I may not be  bragging  if I  make a claim  that I am the first  Gujarati ( or even Indian) of my generation to  visit the place and   take  adventure of Kan Ba caves.

Often described as one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala, Semuc Champey is a natural wonder 11km south of the Q’eqchi’ Maya town of Lanquín.  Semuc Champey, which means, “where the river hides under the earth” in Q’eqchi’, is a natural limestone bridge about 300 meters wide under which passes the   Cahabòn River. Atop the bridge is a series of stepped natural infinity pools filled with turquoise water where locals and visitors can dip in for a relaxed swim.'

But…the journey was well worth the bruises.

Semuc Champey is a set of sun-kissed, aquamarine pools over the Río Cahabón in Alta Verapaz Guatemala. In an odd flaw of mother-nature, the Caharbon River actually passes under a natural 300 meter limestone bridge. At the exact spot where the rushing river drops into hidden caverns arrives a fresh mountain spring that feeds a series of stepped, crystal-clear pools. The basins gradually flow into one another, creating mini waterfalls, water slides, and rock outcroppings that, to any swim savvy adventurer, become natural diving boards, of course.

And swimming at Semuc Champey is both a reward and welcome respite from trekking in the jungle. Most people choose to climb the towering Mirador first, a feat that once accomplished awards a panorama of Semuc Champey in all it’s glory; translucent, cerulean pools surrounded by verdant jungle.

http://blog.thecheaproute.com/semuc-champey-pools-guatemala/

The  real  adventure   was the  tour  to Kan Ba  caves .  

In , a Torturous Drive to a Remote Eden 

http://www.escapingabroad.com/blog/semuc-champey/

Things  were  as  dangerous and  risky as described by most travel blogers . Madhu wisely skipped. I am not so wise and  I did. You may read here  and I will  write later my own experience

Semuc Champey – the beautiful place that turned out to be a nightmare 

http://2travelers.info/en/english-semuc-champey-the-beautiful-place-that-turned-out-to-be-a-nightmare/

see Very Danagerous caves at Semuc  Chamey 

There were were opportunities to slide down slick rocks in order to plunge into a dark abyss, and places you could jump into utter darkness, but most of our group (young medical students and global health workers) grew very quiet except to concentrate on keeping up with a partner, staying afloat, and feeling where to next put hand or foot. 

They told me that people die every year in those caves, and others have emerged with broken backs, arms, and legs. So travelers, please take heed. The tourist agencies won't tell you!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g303868-d600477-r70038726-Semuc_Champey-Lanquin_Alta_Verapaz_Department.html#