@ All right reserved with the author
Date: 22/01/2026
Living in Cusco, Peru, I learned that history here is not preserved behind glass. It is walked on, leaned against, and spoken around. The city carries its Incan foundation openly, with colonial structures layered above it, not replacing it.
Local people move through these spaces with familiarity. Stones that attract global attention are simply part of their route to work or home. Conversations happen beside walls built centuries ago, without ceremony.
The presence of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, influences life subtly. Tourism exists, but it does not define identity. Markets still function for locals first. Traditions are practiced because they belong, not because they are observed.
Life here teaches balance — between preservation and practicality. Cusco does not compete with its past. It accommodates it.
For someone living here, the lesson is clear: history remains alive when it is allowed to participate in the present.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati , Assam , India
instagram @ rajatchandrasarmah5
youtube: converse with a smile .
musingofrajat.wordpress.com 