Intihuatana, Urubamba

The Intihuatana stands as a granite monolith with four faces pointing to cardinal directions, measuring two meters in diameter and one meter in width.

The stone structure dates back to the 15th century during Emperor Pachacútec's reign and remained hidden until archaeologist Hiram Bingham's discovery in 1911.

This ritual stone combines astronomical functions with religious significance, as the Inca used it to track solstices and conduct ceremonies for agricultural cycles.

Visitors reach the Intihuatana through two long staircases located on the north and south sides of the pyramidal structure in Machu Picchu's urban sector.

The name Intihuatana derives from Quechua words: Inti meaning sun and huatana meaning to tie, creating the literal translation 'where the sun is tied.'

GPS coordinates: -13.16306,-72.54556

Latest update: May 11, 2025 05:06