Inti Punku
People waiting for the sunrise at Inti Punku | |
Location | Peru, Cusco Region |
---|---|
Region | Andes |
History | |
Cultures | Inca |
Inti Punku or Intipunku[1][2] (Quechua inti sun, punku door,[3] "sun gate", Hispanicized spellings Intipunco, Intipuncu, Inti Puncu) is an archaeological site in the Cusco Region of Peru that was once a fortress of the sacred city, Machu Picchu.[4] It is now also the name of the final section of the Incan Trail between the Sun Gate complex and the city of Machu Picchu. It was believed that the steps were a control gate for those who enter and exited the Sanctuary.[5]
[6] It is one of the most important archeological constructions around the Machu Picchu site.[7] Inti Punku was once the main entrance to Machu Picchu, in particular it was the primary approach from the then capitol city of Cusco to the southeast.[8] The gate likely would have been protected by Incan military.[citation needed] Inti Punku is dedicated to the cult of the Inti, the Sun god.[9] Because of its location on a ridge southeast of Machu Picchu, the rising sun would pass through the Sun Gate each year on the summer solstice. It is located 2745 meters above the sea level. The altitude of the climb to Inti Punku from Machu Picchu is 290 meters.[10] It is a wide archaeological site with windows and gates that are held up by terraces.[11] This is the first place that tourists can see the whole sanctuary. Tourists are able to see the sun rise over the whole mountains by Machu Picchu. [12]
Route description
The route covers a distance of approximately a mile, eventually rising above the ruins of Machu Picchu The ruins themselves serve as a final stop for hikers completing an optional five-day hike from a point far back from Aguas Calientes, the city at the base of Machu Picchu. This hike has been recommended by many tour guides as giving a great view of the city of Machu Picchu.
In order to get to Inti Punku, the Inca Trail must be trekked,[13] which takes about three to four hours round trip to complete. There are visible signs throughout the Inca Trail indicating directions of the Sun Gate.[14] From the Sun Gate, the Machu Picchu Mountain, Huayna Picchu Mountain, Vilcabamba/Urubamba River, and Putukusi Mountain are all visible.[15]
Although the trail to Inti Punku is open all year, there is more rainfall from November to April. Due to the region's unpredictable weather, tourists are advised to be prepared with rain gear and sun protection.[16]
Gallery
- Sign at check-point near Willkaraqay showing the location of Inti Punku
- First view of Machu Picchu before sunrise from Inti Punku
See also
- Patallaqta
- Phuyupatamaka
- Runkuraqay
- Warmiwañusqa
- Willkaraqay
References
- ^ sernanp.gob.pe Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish) ("Intipunku")
- ^ http://www.inei.gob.pe Conociendo Cusco, pdf (in Spanish) ("Intipunku")
- ^ Teofilo Laime Ajacopa, Diccionario Bilingüe Iskay simipi yuyayk'ancha, La Paz, 2007 (Quechua-Spanish dictionary)
- ^ [1] ("MachuPicchu")
- ^ [2] ("Sun Gate Inti")
- ^ [3] ("Sun Gate Machu Picchu")
- ^ "Sun Gate Inti Punku". The Machu Picchu Gateway. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Sun Gate Inti Punku". The Machu Picchu Gateway. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Sun Gate Inti Punku". The Machu Picchu Gateway. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "A Guide to Hiking to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) - the Only Peru Guide". the Only Peru Guide. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
- ^ "Sun Gate Inti Punku". The Machu Picchu Gateway. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "A Guide to Hiking to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku)". The Only Peru Guide. The Only Peru Guide. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "More Tourists at Machu Picchu." Tunnels & Tunnelling International, (1998): 18.
- ^ [4] ("A Guide To Hiking To The Sun Gate")
- ^ [5] ("Sun Gate Inti Punku")
- ^ "A Guide to Hiking to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) - the Only Peru Guide". the Only Peru Guide. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
External links
13°10′11″S 72°32′02″W / 13.169759°S 72.533949°W / -13.169759; -72.533949
- v
- t
- e
- Acaray
- Ahuila Gencha Machay
- Amaru Marka Wasi
- Arhuaturo
- Asana
- Asiru Phat'jata
- Aspero
- Auga Punta
- Auquilohuagra
- Awkin Punta
- Awkimarka (Apurímac)
- Awkimarka (Huánuco)
- Aya Muqu
- Ayamachay
- Ayawayq'u
- Azángaro
- Baths of Boza
- Bandurria
- Buena Vista
- Cahuachi
- Cajamarquilla
- Cao Viejo
- Carachupa
- Carajía
- Caral
- Caves of Sumbay
- Cerro Baúl
- Cerro Pátapo
- Cerro Trinidad
- Chacamarca
- Chan Chan
- Chanquillo
- Chauchilla Cemetery
- Chavín de Huantar
- Chawaytiri
- Cheqollo
- Chichakuri
- Chipaw Marka
- Choquepuquio
- Choquequirao
- Choquequirao Puquio
- Churajón
- Chuya
- Cochabamba
- Cochapata
- Colcampata
- Collor
- Condorcaga
- Cota Coca
- Coricancha
- Cumbemayo
- Cutimbo
- El Brujo
- El Cañoncillo
- El Ingenio
- El Paraíso
- Garagay
- Gran Pajatén
- Gran Vilaya
- Guellayhuasin
- Guitarrero Cave
- Hatun Machay
- Hatun Misapata
- Hatun Rumiyoc
- Hatun Uchku
- Hatun Usnu
- Hatunmarka
- Honcopampa
- Huaca de la Luna
- Huaca del Dragón
- Huaca del Sol
- Huaca Huallamarca
- Huaca Prieta
- Huaca Pucllana
- Huaca San Marcos
- Huaca Santa Ana
- Huacramarca
- Hualpayunca
- Huamanmarca, La Convención
- Huamboy
- Huankarán
- Huaycán de Pariachi
- Huánuco Pampa
- Huari
- Huayna Picchu
- Huayrapongo
- Huchuy Qosqo
- Huiñao
- Inca Uyo
- Incahuasi, Lima
- Ingatambo
- Inka Mach'ay
- Inka Raqay, Apurímac
- Inka Raqay, Ayacucho
- Inka Tampu, Huayopata
- Inka Tampu, Vilcabamba
- Inka Tunuwiri
- Inka Wasi, Ayacucho
- Inka Wasi, Huancavelica
- Inkapintay
- Inkilltambo
- Inti Punku
- Inti Watana, Ayacucho
- Inti Watana, Calca
- Inti Watana, Urubamba
- Intikancha
- Intini Uyu Pata
- Intipa Ñawin
- Intiyuq K'uchu
- Iskuqucha
- Isog
- Jinkiori
- Jisk'a Iru Muqu
- Kanamarka
- Kanichi
- Kenko
- Killa Mach'ay
- Killarumiyuq
- Kotosh
- Kuelap
- Kukuli
- Kuntur Wasi
- Kunturmarka, Ayacucho
- Kunturmarka, Pasco
- Kuntuyuq
- Kusichaka valley
- Khichuqaqa
- Khuchi Mach'ay
- K'allapayuq Urqu
- K'ipakhara
- Laguna de las Momias
- Lauricocha Caves
- Layzón
- Llactan
- Llamachayuq
- Llamachayuq Qaqa
- Llamayuq
- Llamuqa
- Llaqta Qulluy, Acoria
- Llaqta Qulluy, Conayca
- Llaqta Qulluy, Tayacaja
- Llaqta Qulluy, Vilca
- Llaqtapata
- Machu Colca
- Machu Picchu
- Machu Pirqa
- Machu Pitumarka
- Machu Q'inti
- Mallkuamaya
- Mameria
- Maray Qalla
- Marayniyoq
- Marcahuamachuco
- Markahirka
- Markansaya
- Markapukyu
- Marpa
- Mawk'allaqta, Castilla
- Mawk'allaqta, Espinar
- Mawk'allaqta, La Unión
- Mawk'allaqta, Melgar
- Mawk'allaqta, Paruro
- Mawk'allaqta, Sandia
- Mawk'ataray
- Mazur
- Miculla
- Millka
- Miraflores
- Mirq'imarka
- Miyu Pampa
- Molloko
- Moray
- Mulinuyuq
- Mullu Q'awa
- Muyu Muyu
- Muyu Urqu
- Muyuq Marka
- Nazca Lines
- Nina Kiru
- Ninamarca
- Ñawpallaqta, Huanca Sancos
- Ñawpallaqta, Fajardo
- Ñawpallaqta, Lucanas
- Ñusta Hispana
- Ollantaytambo
- Pacatnamu
- Pachacamac
- Pachatusan
- Paiján
- Pañamarca
- Paracas Candelabra
- Paraccra
- Patallaqta
- Pikillaqta
- Pikimach'ay
- Pilluchu
- Pinkuylluna
- Pirca Pirca, La Libertad
- Pirca Pirca, Lima
- Pirhuaylla
- Piruro
- Pirwayuq
- Písac
- Puka Pukara
- Puka Tampu
- Puka Urqu
- Pukara, Coporaque
- Pukara, Fajardo
- Pukara, Puno
- Pukara, Vilcas Huamán
- Pukarani
- Pumamarka, San Sebastián
- Pumamarka, Urubamba
- Pumaq Hirka
- Pumawasi
- Punkuri
- Puqin Kancha
- Puruchuco
- Purunllacta, Cheto
- Purunllacta, Soloco
- Pusharo
- Pusuquy Pata
- Puyupatamarca
- Qaqapatan
- Qenko
- Qillqatani
- Qillqa
- Qillqay Mach'ay
- Quiaca
- Quillarumi
- Quishuar
- Qullqapampa
- Qulu Qulu
- Qunchamarka
- Qunchupata
- Quri Winchus
- Qurimarka, Apurímac
- Qurimarka, Cusco
- Quriwayrachina, Anta
- Quriwayrachina, Ayacucho
- Quriwayrachina, La Convención
- Qasa Pata
- Qhapaq Kancha
- Raqch'i
- Revash
- Rumicolca
- Rumiwasi
- Runayoc
- Runkuraqay
- Sacsayhuamán
- Sara Sara
- Sayacmarca
- Sayhuite
- Sechín
- Sillustani
- Sipán
- Sóndor
- Soro Mik'aya Patjxa
- Susupillu
- Tambo Totem
- Tambomachay
- Tampu Mach'ay, Huancavelica
- Tampukancha
- Tanqa Tanqa
- Tantarica
- Taqrachullu
- Tarahuasi
- Tarmatambo
- Templo del Zorro
- The Toads of Wiraqucha
- Tikra
- Tinyaq
- Tipón
- Titiqaqa
- Toquepala Caves
- Toro Muerto
- Trinchera
- Túcume
- Tunanmarca
- Tunay Q'asa
- Tupu Inka
- T'akaq
- T'uqu T'uquyuq
- Uchkus Inkañan
- Urpish
- Uskallaqta
- Usnu, Ayacucho
- Usnu, Huánuco
- Usnu Muqu
- Usqunta
- Uyu Uyu
- Venado cautivo
- Ventanillas de Otuzco
- Ventarron
- Vilcabamba
- Vilcashuamán
- Viracochapampa
- Vitcos
- Waman Pirqa
- Wamanilla
- Wamanmarka, Chumbivilcas
- Wamanmarka, Lima
- Wanakawri, Cusco
- Wanakawri, Huánuco
- Waqlamarka
- Waqra Pukara
- Waqutu
- Warahirka
- Waraqayuq
- Waraqu Urqu
- Warawtampu
- Wari Willka
- Waruq
- Wat'a, Cusco
- Wat'a, Huánuco
- Wayna Q'inti
- Wayna Tawqaray
- Wichama
- Wichqana
- Wich'un
- Wila Wilani
- Wilca
- Wilcahuaín
- Willkaraqay
- Wiñay Wayna
- Wiraqucha Pirqa
- Yanaca
- Yanaqi - Qillqamarka
- Yaynu
- Yuraq Mach'ay