Palenque Ruin Site, Chiapas State Mexico

Palenque Ruin Site Chiapas State, Mexico

Palenque's Temple of the Inscriptions
above the tomb of the Emperor Pacal, ruler
from 615 AD to 683 AD

Palenque Ruin Site, view of the Temple of the Inscriptions. The tomb of
Pacal was found within the temple at ground level

Views of Palenque's temples from the Temple of the Cross

View from the Temple of the Cross

Palenque, an ancient Mayan city, was at its height from 600AD to 900 AD. Once an
important Mayan political center, the Mayan rulers abandoned the city around 900 AD.

Palenque Ruin site, named after the nearby city
called Palenque, Spanish for fortification or stockade,
is an enigmatic abandoned stone city built by the
Mayans between the 5th and 9th centuries AD near
the Usumacinta River in Mexico's southern most State
of Chiapas.
Palenque was once an important Mayan political
center, the Mayan rulers abandoned the city around
900 AD.
The small town of Palenque (85,000) occupies a
hillside 8 miles from the site where ADO bus service
is available as is other services and tours to nearby
sites such as Bonampak and Yaxchilan. Tours also
leave the area for the cascades of Agua Azule and for
San Cristobal de las Casas.

To visit Palenque ruin Site and Museum, catch
the White VW collective taxis that make runs to the
ruin about every 15 minutes and cost about $1. USD.
They round the rotary at the Cabeza Maya, a large
stone sculptured head at the entrance to the town.
Campgrounds, hotels, and posadas are plentiful in
the town with campgrounds and inns on the entrance
road to the archaeological site.

According to researchers, the first governor of Palenque was known as K'uk Balan 1, Juaguar-Quetzal a
ruler of the first dynasty who took power in 431 AD.
The city flourished between 615 and 783 AD. By 800 AD the city had a population of 8000 people. After
800 AD the cities power waned and by 900 AD according to some researchers, the city was abandoned
for unknown reasons.

Friar Diego de Landa (1524-1579) described the city in 1567 writings available in a book at Palenque's
museum bookstore: "Yucatan Before And After The Conquest. "

Although occupied from 100 AD, the sites Classic Period buildings that the visitor sees took shape
between 600 AD and 800 AD.

Legend and stone inscription suggest that the first inhabitants were Olmec people and the many of the
artifacts in the small museum on the entrance road have Olmec artistic attributes.

Temple of the Cross

View of the Palace

Palenque's most notable leader was 7 Th Century Pacal who ruled from 615 to 683 AD. He built
the so-called Temple of the Inscriptions dedicated in 692 AD atop the pyramid enclosing his tomb.

After the decline of the center, the area farmers continued to live in the valley below the city but
according to reports the area was nearly deserted when the Spanish arrived in 1520.

American travel writer John Lloyd Stephens and English artist Frederick Catherwood made trips
to the area in 1839 and 1842, documenting the sites with text and drawings in their publication,
"Incidents of Travel In The Yucatan" published in 1843.

Controlled archaeology commenced with a
Tulane University expedition headed by Franz
Blom in 1923.
Later Mexican researchers headed by Albert
Ruiz Lhuillier, working from 1949 to 1952,
would discover the tomb of Pacal at the
ground level within the pyramidal platform
supporting the Temple of the Inscriptions.
Scientific work continues within the site which
is presently 10% excavated and stabilized.

Palenque, an
Ancient Mayan
City famed as one
of the most
beautiful cities in
the world,

Palenque,
settled in 100
AD, was at its
height from
600 AD to 900
AD

Palenque Hotels,
Hotel Canada   (Pronounced Canyada) is a handy place for lodging just a short walk to the Cabeza
Maya statue where white vans make frequent runs to the ruins.   Several other hotels in the area
called the Canada range from 350 to 1000 peso per night. \Restaurants and coffee shops are
nearby.

Palenque Camping: Maya Bell RV and Camping Park. adjacent to the ruin.    Phone: 011-52-
916-345-0798

Palenque Ruin Site
Transportation Lodging

Palenque Ruin Site Chiapas State, Mexico can be
reached by collective taxi, a White VW van running to
the ruin about every 15 minutes. Cost 10 Pesos (less
then $1 USD) from the rotary at the Cabeza Maya, a
large stone sculptured head at the entrance to the town.

Yaxchilan Ruin Site and Bonampak can be reached by collective taxi to the Frontera, the border between
Mexico and Guatemala on the Usumacinta River. Two agencies run white vans each hour starting at four am
for the 90 mile, 2,5 hour trip. Cost 70-100 pesos each way. They are located a short walk west of the rotary at
the Cabeza Maya, the large sculptured head at the entrance to the town near the ADO Bus station.
See Details link below