Kalasasaya

Kalasasaya is a temple complex in Tiwanaku, located in the Bolivian highlands about 70 kilometers west of La Paz. The site consists of a large open courtyard surrounded by vertical sandstone pillars and walls made of carefully shaped stone blocks.

The complex was built between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE as a religious center for the Tiwanaku culture near Lake Titicaca. Over several centuries it served as a place for ceremonies and astronomical observations.

The complex takes its name from Aymara words for stone and upright, describing the many vertical blocks set into place. Visitors today see the remains of a ceremonial space that once formed the religious center of an entire civilization.

Visitors enter the site through a wide stone staircase on the eastern side that leads up to the platform. Guided tours from La Paz usually take a full day and include other archaeological sites in the region.

The site shows precise alignments to sunrises during the equinoxes, revealing the astronomical knowledge of its builders. Within the grounds stands the Gateway of the Sun, a monolithic stone doorway featuring carvings of deities and calendar symbols.

Location: Tiwanaku Municipality

Part of: Tiwanaku

GPS coordinates: -16.55500,-68.67361

Latest update: December 17, 2025 10:42