The Tikal National Park In Guatemala
Posted On November 23, 2009
Tikal has got a steady place among the world’s favorite travel wonders and even today a huge numbers of tourist visits this place across the world, many people feel that Tikal is one of the most spiritually powerful places on the earth. The monumental site which has huge tall pyramids that stands different in the dark thick jungle makes it really worth a shot destination.
Tikal has been several times stated as the largest urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization and also the largest archeological sites of the Maya civilization. Tikal is located in the modern day northern Guatemala which is olden times was known as the Petén Basin. It has been declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in year 1979. Tikal was the most powerful state during the ancient Maya kingdom. This architectural monument is supposed to be as old as to be built in 4th century. Tikal was the most important city for the Maya kingdom during the classic period that was 200 to 900 AD. Tikal dominated Maya kingdom not only economically but also politically as well as militarily. There are many proofs that stated that Teotihuacán had conquered Tikal in the 4th AD. After the end of the classic period no new monuments were constructed in Tikal. It was also found that the major and elite monuments were burned. The site was abandoned by the end of 10th century due to the decline in the population.
The closest destination to reach Tikal are Santa Elena and Flores from there to reach Tikal it requires approximately 64 km. Tikal is located at a distance of nearly 303 km at the north of Guatemala City. The contemporary Maya city of Uaxactun is located at a distance of 19 km from Tikal. The city area has been covered by nearly 3000 structures. The total area of the city is about 16 square kilometers. The typography of the site has a series of parallel limestone which rise above the lowlands. Around 570 square kilometer area surrounding the Tikal has been declared as the preserved area and also the Tikal national Park.
Tikal was once the most flourishing city with nearly 100000 inhabitants. Today Tikal has become the archeological attraction for various archeologists all across the globe. Tikal has the wonderful combination of the archeological remains and the nature. The ruins of Tikal consist of nearly 3000 structure that stands along the area which is around 6 sq miles. The ruins of Tikal include temples, ball courts, palaces, plazas, ceremonial platforms, terraces, steam baths as 
well as avenues. The construction of Tikal started around 600 BC and its religious and political importance remained for the next 1500 years.
The Tikal national is a home for not only the age-old Mayan city but also the monkeys, the Screeching howler as well as the parrots that provides the visitors with the natural sound track. If you are lucky enough you can spot monkeys, coati-mundis, brocket deer, white lipped peccary, parrots, toucans, seldom jaguar, ocelots as well as scarlet macaws. You can witness various vegetation spices as well as many tropical flowers.
If you are planning a trip to Tikal we would require minimum 2 days to see the whole heritage site. If you want to have the best view of the site try and have a look at it on the full moon night. Santa Elena which is located at a distance of 64 kilometers is the closest city to Tikal. Mundo Maya International Airport connects Santa Elena with the various major cities of the American continent.
