Ollantaytambo Fortress

By: David Miranda

02/12/2022

It is a town that is located northeast of the colorful Valley of the Incas. Ollantaytambo was before the Incas a small growing town that entered the domain of the Incas at the time of the Inca Pachacútec (1418 - 1471). This town was established as a very important checkpoint, as well as being the place where corn could be domesticated for its abundant production, taking advantage of the fact that the Urubamba river was right next to the town.

This town is known for being one of the oldest human settlements in America that has been inhabited. Just by wandering through the streets of this town, a traveler can go back in time in a special way.

Ollantaytambo platforms

It is known that Pachacútec was the one who built the main buildings of the current archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, but there is evidence that the origins of Ollantaytambo date back approximately 400 years.

There is evidence of the Huari culture in the town sites and indications of much older settlements, so it is most likely that the Incas built on top of a city that already existed.

At the top of Ollantaytambo built on a terraced tower on the west side, is the 'Aracama', which is where the Temple of the Sun is located, this is a unique building in Cusco.

It has 150 steps with a perfect carving of stones similar to the Tipón Valley to the south of Cusco, among the architecture, the 6 erect monoliths stand out and joined by huge sheets of stone, they were created with the purpose of cushioning seismic movements.

It is because of the terraces of Ollantaytambo that this town is seen as one of the most impressive examples of Inca architecture, engineering and agriculture, they are 700 meters high, 58 meters wide and 15 meters deep, built in relation to the sun, these create microclimates which allowed to grow products from different altitudinal zones.

Templo del Sol

• It has the Temple of the Sun, which is considered one of the best construction works carried out in the time of the Incas.
• Both its cultural, scenic, natural, historical and architectural attributes that Ollantaytambo possesses, have awarded it the merit as 'Best Tourist Towns in the World', at the twenty-fourth General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Spain – Madrid 2021
• Ollantaytambo has also been declared the 'World Capital of Indianness' and its Wallata dance from the Patacancha river basin was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation by the Ministry of Culture, on October 30, 2008.
• It is located at a height of 2792 m.s.n.m. In the province of Urubamba 60 kilometers northeast of Cusco, it is divided into 2 sectors: the town and the archaeological site.
• The legend 'El Drama Ollantay' maintains that in the time of Pachacútec there was an admiral who revolted against the Inca for the love of his daughter. The word 'tambo', means in Quechua, place of rest or hostel for travelers. Which means that Ollantay used the 'tambo' as its base.
• In addition to having been a fortress, the constructions indicate that it was also a resting place for both the Inca and the Colla (Inca's Wife).
• To visit the archaeological site you must buy the Tourist Ticket that allows you to visit other archaeological destinations. You can also visit the old abandoned quarries from where the city's construction material was extracted.
• This town currently still retains its Inca urban layout, it has a polygonal design and with the main square in the middle and organized streets. It has many tourist services such as hotels, restaurants, cafes and i's where you can take the train to go to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
• It has several branches of the Inca trail 'Qapac Ñan' in good condition.

The Ollantay drama

• The platforms
• Megalithic walls
• Hike to Inti Watana
• View of Tunupa
• Inca Profile
• Sundial
• Temple of the Condor
• Royal baths of the ñusta
• The town and its streets

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