Bonampak, Chiapas
“Painted Walls”
Bonampak is a small site with Medium sized pryamids and temples. It’s claim to fame is the Temple of Murals with three rooms that house world famous murals. The turquoise, rust and yellows are bright and clear as you duck into the 3 chambers on top of the temple.
Click here to view more Bonampak Photography by Bill Dot Bell
Fast Facts
Culture – Mayan
Dates of Occupation – 650 to 850 AD
Location – In the Lacandon jungle in Chiapas Mexico. It is 30 KMs south of Yaxchilan or 148KMs from Palenque.
Estimated Population –
First Discovered – Discovered by Giles Healy and Carlos Fry in April 1946 through talking to the Lacandon Indians José Pepe Chambor and Acasio Chan.
Directions:
From Palenque a popular tour is bus to Bonampak and Yaxchilán. The cost for this is approximately 700 pesos both ways. This includes the 2 admissions, parking, bus transport, community fee, boat transport and food.
Driving from Palenque:
You can easily drive your vehicle to Bonampak and Migration at the boat launch to Guatemala and Yaxchilán.
Drive from Mex Highway 199 South from Palenque to the Junction of Mex Highway 307 and 199. Go to the 307 and drive 135 kms to the Boat launch. You will pass as many as 3 military checkpoints that generally waive you on southbound and check more vigorously going north. (If you go on to Tikal you must check out of Mexico with Migration on the Mexican side at the boat launch which requires your FMT, FM2or FM3 and passport.
Bonampak is an ancient Maya archaeological site located in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is known for its well-preserved murals that provide significant insights into Maya culture and civilization. The site is situated in the dense rainforest of the Yucatan Peninsula and was occupied during the Late Classic period, roughly between the 6th and 8th centuries AD.
The most notable feature of Bonampak is its three temples that are adorned with intricate murals depicting scenes of Maya life, warfare, and rituals. The murals are renowned for their vibrant colors and detailed representations of people, costumes, and hieroglyphic texts. The most famous of these murals is found in the Temple of the Painted Murals (Templo de las Pinturas), which consists of three rooms.
The murals in Bonampak are considered a valuable source for understanding Maya society, politics, and art. They provide a glimpse into the clothing, body adornments, and social roles of the ancient Maya. Some of the scenes on the murals depict ceremonies, battles, and the presentation of captives, shedding light on the military and ceremonial aspects of Maya civilization.
Bonampak was rediscovered in 1946 by American photographer Giles Healey, and the significance of the site became widely recognized after the documentation of its murals. Today, Bonampak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts visitors interested in the rich history and artistry of the ancient Maya civilization.
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