Palenque is a bustling small city in the state of Chiapas. Located on the main street, called Juarez Avenue, are several diverse shops and businesses, ranging from small tour operators to high tech internet cafes, as well as restaurants, banks, shoe stores, and drugstores.
Description
Palenque is an interesting blend of small town life and the typical hustle and bustle of a more cosmopolitan city. Walking through the streets of Palenque there are many locals, as well as foreign visitors from all over the world. It is a town where much of the architecture is modern, however there are also many indigenous influences. The locals are warm, friendly and unpretentious people and like in most towns, downtown Palenque is usually busy, whereas the suburbs are more tranquil and quiet, suitable for a more relaxing vacation.
When talking about hotels, Palenque really is a multi-faceted town with accommodations ranging from simple and rustic, to incredibly lavish and sophisticated where you don't have to give up comfort and convenience in order to fully enjoy the lush natural surroundings.
A bit of history
The city was founded in 1567 by a Dominican priest, named Pedro Lorenzo, along with several native Choles from the surrounding Lacandon rain forest. A few years later, he gave the village three bells as a symbol of the founding of the settlement. Then in 1813 it was officially decreed as a town by the Cadiz Courts in Spain and finally in 1972, it was established as a city by the then Constitutional State Governor.
Nowadays the largest of the three bells, brought by Friar Pedro Lorenzo, is housed in the town church and is considered a living testament to the founding of Palenque.
Archaeological Route
Located just 8 km from the city and nestled in the mystical jungle, lies Palenque; one of the most comprehensive Mayan cities, along with Tikal, Calakmul and Copan. Palenque is well known throughout the world for its magnificent art, and it has been a World Heritage site protected by UNESCO since 1987.
The Temple of the Inscriptions is one of the most famous structures on the site. Inside the temple under a large stone slab lays a secret staircase, which led archaeologists to the remains of the most sumptuous royal Mayan burial site found to this day. The temple was named after the huge slabs, uncovered in the excavation, on which was inscribed one of the longest Mayan hieroglyphics ever found.
If you visit Palenque on a sunny day you will be able to see how the sunlight reaches through the rainforest canopy, irradiating energy to the city and all the surroundings. Whereas if you go on a rainy day, once the rain stops, you will be able to see the steam rising from the pavement as you go up the road to the archaeological site adding even more mysticism to this truly enigmatic place.