This is the city of Tikal. Here, the Mayan people lived for centuries, only to mysteriously desert their home, seemingly without reason. Tikal is located in Guatemala, not far from the Belizean border.

It was a spectacular city, as cities go. Located in present day Guatemala, there are over 3,000 structures in this six square mile metropolis. Among these structures are great stone temples, altars, stelae, and ancient ballcourts.

No one is quite sure why Tikal was built. It was not designed for a great number of people, yet sources say that from 10,000 to 100,000 people lived there at the city’s height. Some believe that it is a religious center, others say the temples served as observatories to view the celestial bodies of the heavens.

Inside the park itself, there are two motels, several restaurants, and a museum, including a scale model of Tikal.

When discovered in 1848, it was hard to believe that Tikal was once a buzzing metropolis. Jungle vines, trees and creepers had come in and taken over.

Because Tikal is now a national park, extreme care must be taken before they do further excavation, which might harm part of the virgin forest.

Many visitors to Tikal stand and stare before some square topped hills. Under these, a temple still exists, though now it is not visible.

In one of the temples, the Temple of Inscriptions, there are many hieroglyphs that have been painted on the walls. These are part of the Mayan language, one of the very few languages in history started completely on its own.

Tikal, with its proud towers and moss-covered grounds serves as a remembrance to these people, this city that time forgot.