Added: 01/11/2006 |
San Cristobal: the centre of Indian traditionThe colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas is situated at the distance of about 98 kilometres from Tukstla Gutierres, the capital of the state of Chiapas. The Panamerican highway 190 (the old direction) rising gradually from the valley up to the mountain peaks opens to your eyes the view of unusual beauty. The unthinkable serpentine road promises great danger in the evening misty time, especially if combined with the local lunatic driving manner.
For almost all the colonial epoch San Cristobal remained an unimportant town, forgotten in the mountains of Chiapas. The administrative management, frequently ineffective, was carried out from the neighbouring territory of Guatemala. From 1824 till 1892 San Cristobal was the capital of the state of Chiapas; however, owing to its isolation and the mountain roads which are difficult of access, the capital of the state was transferred to Tukstla town. Today San Cristobal (population 120,000) is supposed to be a centre of the authentic indigenous culture in Mexico and, with no doubt, a tourist capital of the state of Chiapas.
When a tourist comes to San Cristobal the first thing to attract his attention is a refreshing cool mountain air (altitude nearly 2,100 metres). The charming side-streets, old houses and species of colonial architecture are very attractive for thousands of foreigners and even Mexicans. People come there to take a breath of the Bohemian air. In this town the most wonderful and romantic cosy nooks can be found, which make the visitors forget about the reality and be absorbed in tale.
San Cristobal is rich in little coffee-houses, modest shops of national trades, as well as stylish restaurants and posh souvenir stores. A lot of traditional indigenous villages are situated around San Cristobal, such Maya sites as Palenque, Bonampak, Chamula, and some others being among them. The jungle of Chiapas is full of tropical trees and numerous wildlife species. If the tourists go into the selva they will reach the largest natural lake in Chiapas, Laguna Miramar, famous for its crystal water, paradise climate and virgin forests on the lakeside.
Mexico abounds in sites of the old Indian culture, and, truth be told, to research the Indian ethnicity it would be better to visit not only the region of San Cristobal, but also some other Mexican locations of the indigenous tradition. For instance, the ruins of Teotihuacan, the capital of one of the Central America's oldest civilizations, are located at the distance of about 50 kilometres from Mexico City where the mountain range to form a big and fertile valley.
The brilliant civilization of Teotihuacan had significant influence on the following Indian cultures of the Central America. It is known from modern scientific investigations that Teotihuacan, the capital of a powerful and highly developed ancient state, was destroyed by a giant fire at the beginning of VII century A.D.
So, if 'fortune hunter' is your second name, if true adventures pierced with risk and danger are your lifestyle, or your dreams carry you away to the world of hazard go to San Cristobal to try yourself in a real surrounding, which is always to welcome true heroes.
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