Photography. Travel. Mexico.
A Postcard from Palenque
Exploring the Ruins of an Ancient Mayan City in the Heart of the Mexican Jungle
The air was humid and oppressive, threatening tropical rain. Everything was swathed in mist and enveloped in intense greenery. Even the temples themselves were sprouting mosses and palm-like leaves. We could hear the hubbub of hawkers and tourists but they were somehow overpowered by the jungle. A low threatening roar, a sound more at home in Jurassic Park, brought prickles to my skin.
Howler monkeys.
Palenque feels like a rare treasure hidden in the belly of the jungle. Palenque is a ruined ancient Mayan city in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It includes an elaborate palace complex, pyramids, temples, and crypts. It has exceptional examples of Mayan art, carvings, and hieroglyphic inscriptions which relate to Mayan culture, rites, and mythology.
One of my favourite structures looked more like a small house, the kind you draw in primary school, simple but completely shrouded in thick, lush, vibrant emerald green, as if you’d then taken your green felt tip pen and coloured it in.
All in all, I really loved the vibe of this place, there’s something special and visceral about jungle ruins. They let your imagination run riot as to what life must have been like here for the Mayans. It’s a truly fascinating and beautiful place. Well worth a visit!
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