Located in the Yucatan region of Mexico, chichèn itzà remains one of the most impressive examples of the ancient Mayan culture. Among them, the most monumental is El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulcan which takes a central position on the territory of the archaeological site. It covers about 5 square kilometers and has many stone buildings showcasing Mayan and Toltec architectural styles.

Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is located in 97751 Yucatan, Mexico. It is a mind-blowing journey of architectural and historical discovery that needs to be seen to be believed.
However, the question that might be in everybody’s mind is; “what is hidden behind this mighty World Heritage?” Read on to know What’s the Outside & Inside of Chichen Itza?

Where is Chichen Itza in Mexico?

Chichen Itza is nestled on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, about 125 km west of Cancun. This ancient Mayan city is a captivating destination filled with archaeological wonders and rich history. Visitors can marvel at the iconic El Castillo pyramid and other impressive ruins that have stood tall in testing time. The surreal green vistas surrounding the pyramid elevate its beauty.

Outside of The Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza, the large city that the Maya people visit, is one of the best-preserved examples of Maya heritage in the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites. This massive site has its focal point in El Castillo, also known as Chichen Itza Structure 5B18. As one of the most significant structures of Mayan civilization built between the 8th and 12th centuries AD, it has a step-pyramid form with a height of 30 meters (98 feet) and a base of 55.3 meters (181 feet) on each side.

The pyramid was built to worship Kukulcan, the feathered serpent god that the Maya religion shares with the central Mexican religions related to Quetzalcoatl. Its design is unique from the engineering perspective. El Castillo has a total of 365 steps on each side and the steps located at the top of the pyramid make 91 steps on each four sides, equivalent to 365 steps.

When you look at the El Castillo at Chichen Itza, you are looking at something more than a large step pyramid building which was stated above. This is considered one of the oldest structures, which hints at many mysteries hidden in the very core of its limestone surface. Also, the outside of the pyramid is impressive with its accuracy related to astronomy and superlative architecture, but the Inside of the pyramid is much more intriguing as the pyramid’s construction history has been layered for centuries. 

Inside of The Chichen Itza

El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulcan, has one of the most beautiful facades and has been seen to portray some astronomical events.

 

1. The Oldest Pyramid

Recent archaeological discoveries reveal that El Castillo is a GROUP OF PYRAMIDS, not just one pyramid. The earliest pyramid found was constructed between 550 and 800 AD. The early structure was like a single stairway up, plus an altar down below. One of the layers described by the Mayans was concealed and could be examined only by employing noninvasive imaging methods. These methods helped to discover more about the construction of the Maya buildings. One might observe the Maya’s practice of overlaying new layers on top of the older ones on the site, is may be due to the new layers being built to honor past rulers while incorporating modern cultural and religious changes at other times.

2. The Second Pyramid

The second essential stratum is that of more refined structures, which were constructed from 800 to 1000 CE. This pyramid had nine terraces and a single staircase, revealing a more advanced architectural style than the previous pyramids. The Mayan pyramid was excavated, and many interesting relics were found, such as human bones, a throne in the form of a jaguar that was studded with jade, and a Chac Mool, a figure that reclines to receive an offering, and many more. These things reveal the participation of the pyramid in ritualistic and ceremonial activities and insight into the actual religion of the Mayan society.

3. The Final Pyramid

The last and most known layer of El Castillo, which Toltec-Maya built between 1050 and 1300 CE, is the pyramid that can be seen today. This structure was planned with great accuracy and was not only for its beauty but also for its astronomical purpose. The pyramid has 91 broad steps on every side and one more at the summit, making 365. On top of this, another pyramid increases the total number of steps to 365, the solar year of the Maya people. This shows that Mayan civilization had good knowledge of the cosmos and how they used it to construct buildings.

4. The Enigmatic Cenote

Beneath El Castillo lies another fascinating element: a cenote that is a natural sinkhole. This cenote was discovered recently and afforded the pyramid the added importance of making this discovery.
In 2018, it was also uncovered that the El Castillo pyramid was built over a secret cenote. Researchers found a vast cenote, which is also called a sinkhole, underneath the ancient temple of Kukulcán, which is 1,000 years old. The sinkhole under the temple measures 82 feet by 114 feet and can be as deep as 65 feet.  The water filling the cavern is thought to run from north to south. The Mayan civilization recognized the cenotes as a pathway to the underworld, also known as Xibalba. The existence of a cenote underneath the El Castillo pyramid depicts that El Castillo might have been a pathway between the higher kingdom and the lower kingdom.

Another individuality of El Castillo is the acoustic effect, which can be heard by anyone who climbs the stairs to the top of the tower. Various researchers have since discovered that when the pyramid is clapped, the echo resembles the tweeting of the quetzal bird.

Conceivably, there is more than meets the eye for the quetzal avian visitor who utters the chirp-like echolocator from the pyramid’s high, narrow, steep stairs. There is also the equinox phenomenon that takes place in El Castillo. In the spring and autumn equinox, the setting sun’s shadows fall on the northern fence, and it looks like the pyramid is inhabited by a serpent descending the steps. This produces a visual impression further magnified by the serpent heads at the bottom and thousands of visitors every year.