the valley with the Urubamba River
overview of the valley with the Pinkuylluna storehouses high up the mountain
the face of Witacocha in the mountainslope
a view over Ollantaytambo town
a close-up of how the terrasses were build. There is some restoration work to do
the lower ruins with still working fountains
going down
this stone still has the transportation handles on it
watch your head
Ollantaytambo was the residence of the 15th century Inca emperor
Pachacuti. He expanded the small kingdom of Cuzco into the fast Inca
empire.
A century later
Manco Inca Yupanqui used the place as a fortification against the advancing Conquistadors after he
failed to retake Cuzco. He won the
battle of Ollantaytambo but had to abandon the place after Spanish reinforcements arrived
in Cuzco.
The ceremonial temple sits above the terrasses on the flanks of Mount Cerro Bandolista.
Presently Ollantaytambo
is an major tourist site and the starting point of the famous 4-day
Inca-trail to Machu Picchu.
We visited Ollantaytambo in
June 2008.
at the foot of the terraces of Pumatallis
Cerro Bandolista aka Temple Hill
build for the ages
there is unfinished business on Temple Hill
Ollantaytambo town caters for the tourists
