Palenque

Palenque
Palenque is a fine example of a Mayan sanctuary of the classical period. The city was at its height between 500 and 700 A.D. The buildings are decorated with relief´s showing Mayan mythology.

The Palenque temple-complex now is situated in jungle-like surroundings. The numerous (partly restored) remains of the Maya-architecture are quite well-preserved. Only 34 of the estimated 500 constructions in the area have been revealed. Together they give an impression what the city would have looked like during its heydays (although at that time the stones were colored red instead of gray).

One of the most impressive sights is the grave of the Maya-king Pakal. It is situated in the Temple of Inscriptions, and can only be reached via a long stone staircase. The grave was only re-discovered in 1952.


Year Decision Comments
1987 Inscribed Reasons for inscription



Visit September 1997

Palenque has much in common with Tikal (Guatemala), but for unknown reasons it is a lot less famous. The park impressed me a lot, both the temples and natural surroundings.

The grave of Pakal looks a lot like an Egyptian sarcophagi. The decorations (as a deathmask) and the skeleton however have been transferred to a museum in Mexico-City.



More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

Reviews

Lotus (USA?):
I stayed in Palenque for 5 days, in March 08. I didn't find that much in way of spirit at the ruins, outside of the queens banyo. I guess the ruins just didn't have for me that spark, that ignites in most that visit. The surronding jungle is beautiful, and the howler monkeys, take up a chant now and again, which is faint, and spiritual, and to me, brings to mind, the lost chants of an the ancient people.
But I did feel the spirit while staying at el Panchan, near the park entrance, and was entertained by the constant stream of seakers in dreds, and beads, who pass through on their own journeys.
As I had planned, I received a tattoo of a Lotus Blosom on my back, the artist doing the work was "Chuck" and he has been around doing tatoos there for five or six years now, and is good, good enough for most. And if you want a tattoo done, this a good place to have it, and experience it, pain on the marma points, of your body and the planet, all at the same time, exquisite pain. Those with tattoos, know that of which I speak.
The humidity of the rainforest, and warmth of the day, were for me perfect, and sleeping in a tree house, may have you seeing visions of tarzan swinging in the trees, or if the spirit moves you, maybe an elephant.
Be sure and say Hi, to the witch who runs the "other resturant" , (not don Munchos),a great freind and resourse for those who do not speak Spanish, and watch out if you run into the "Shaman of Palenque" who is often in residence, and can be a source of great spirit, though both good and bad, depending on his mood, and level of intoxication. But still another of the many experiences, which may spring from the jungle, at any moment to challenge your reality,in these times, at Palenque.
 
():
I travelled to Palenque from San Christobal de las Casas, by minivan, it took about six hours, but it seemed much longer. The road from S.C. to Palenque is terrible, bumps and holes and loose cattle everywhere! Don't drink too much the night you make this trip!!!

We arrived somewhere in the afternoon, begin february. The weather was not so very good; rainy and very clouded. Nonetheless, Palenque made an absolute lasting impression on me. The site is quite big, it took me almost 2 hours to see everything, and I still had to skip the museum. If you then think about the fact they only yet uncovered 34 of the 500(!) mayan temple complex, you feel truly small.

I really liked Palenque, other than for halluciogenic reasons. The site shows you history, the culture of long gone civilisations, its architecture and a beautiful jungle site.

Palenque is one of those things you really don't want to miss when you are in Mexico!
 
TAJ PEACOCK (CAnada):
Yes to describe the experiences of Palenque that i have had...the first time that i was enchanted by this sacred site was in 1974. the humid jungle was throbbing with life as i walked up the riverside past awesome waterfalls along the water pipeline(ther was no path up the river then!) and came to this clearing in the jungle and there it was!!!! just otherworldly it felt!! my Heart pounded and i felt lifted up, inspired in a very strange manner. As i've seen many times with New Age wackies and mushroomed out freeks and beer guzzling red-necks there is a definite intense,deep spiritual inspiration that just radiates from this place!! One feels Godbeingforce or whatever one chooses to call it.... i've been staying there for months on end many times over the past 28 years and i always feel that i've evolved/grown deeper with every visit.There are amazing mushroom carvings on the Palace complex that noone in the archealogical world has mentioned...????why not ??in truth one of the greatest experiences that one can enjoy is a respectfull mushroom trip with the sacred psylocybe cubensis allies that grow out in the campos in the cow shit. To be up on the Temple of the Inscriptions on a full moon night tripping delightfully is beyond description!!!! the cosmic infinite feeling that we've all been here before is REAL and one travels deep within to that eternal place where we all begin and end.....in the Queen's bath in that little cave under the waterfalls i had a revelation from the spirits of the Maya telling me of our origin in the Galaxy and of the sacred geometry built into Palenque's buildings. My artwork began that night and keeps erupting from my hands and Heart daily. My name is TAJ PEACOCK and if you would like to contact me please do at : zuvuyataj@yahoo.com and let's talk of liberation and Hunab Ku and how to save our silly asses and this dear Mother Planet from the Babylonian sick war culture...yes!! let's all go to Palenque and chant and meditate and be the antithesis to the ugly WARmongering that's going on NOW!!! come together right NOW....see u there.....TAJ hongero sincero...
 


Have you been to Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque? Share your experiences!

Add your own review