Chichen Itza is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization.The main attraction is the central pyramid, also known as El Castillo, this spectacular, massive Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the Chichen Itza archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatan.
El Castillo served as a temple to the god Kukulkan and is believed to have served as a calendar. Each of the structures four stairways contains 91 steps. When counting the top platform as another step, in total El Castillo has 365 steps, one step for each day of the year. The structure is 24 meters tall (78 feet), plus an additional 6 m (20 feet) for the temple top for a total height of 30 meters (98 feet). The square base measures 55.3 meters (181 feet) across. Huge sculptures of plumed serpent’s heads sit at the base of the pyramid on the northern staircase.
Inside you will find a narrowly enclosed staircase that leads to a chac mool, an altar where offerings to the gods were placed. It is sometimes possible to visit the inside passageway of the pyramid. Climbing to the top of the pyramid is no longer allowed.
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