Inti Punku - Puerta del sol, Archaeological site in Ollantaytambo, Peru.
Inti Punku is a stone gate built high in the mountains at about 3900 meters elevation in Peru's Sacred Valley. The structure is modest in size but carefully crafted, with stones fitted together to form a narrow passage in the ridge.
This gate was built during the height of the Inca Empire and served as a checkpoint along a vast network of roads linking distant regions. It represents an important part of how the Inca organized movement through difficult mountain terrain.
This place held deep meaning for the Inca people as a sacred passage connected to sun worship and spiritual journeys through the mountains. Visitors can sense how it functioned as a threshold between different worlds in Inca belief and geography.
This site is only reachable on foot via a mountain trail that takes several hours to hike and sits at high altitude. Visitors should be in good physical shape and prepared for changing mountain weather conditions.
The stone blocks of the gate fit together with such precision that no mortar was needed, showing the craftsmanship of Inca builders. This building technique allowed Inca structures to survive earthquakes and endure for centuries without falling apart.
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