Tambomachay

Overall view (2017)

Water sanctuary

Access road

Tambomachay ( bath of the Inca ) is a water sanctuary about 8 kilometers north of Cuzco in Peru . The facility, located at an altitude of 3700 m, dates from the Inca period. Water pours in channels over four terraced levels. For this, the natural rock was hewn and artificial masonry was incorporated. Several trapezoidal niches in the masonry as well as water channels and water basins have been preserved.

The complex probably served several purposes: in addition to being used as a water sanctuary, it is said to have served as a recreation and hunting area for the Inca as well as part of the defenses around Cuzco.

The complex is well developed for tourism and can be viewed for a fee from a parking lot on 28B. In the immediate vicinity on the other side of 28B is the ruin of the small Inca fortress Puka Pukara .

A farming village about 10 km away is also called Tambomachay.

mythology

A Quechua legend says about the effect of the three small watercourses: If you drink from the watercourse at the bottom right, you should become younger, if you drink from the watercourse at the bottom left, you will have twins, and the upper watercourse should have a blessing effect .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Display board at the entrance of the complex 2017

Web links

Commons : Tambomachay  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 13 ° 28 ′ 51.5 ″  S , 71 ° 57 ′ 53.5 ″  W.