Tourist attraction of Cusco – Ollantaytambo
Visiting Hours: Monday – Sunday 07: 0 0 a.m. – 18:00.p.m.
Location: It is located 80 km northeast of Cusco, gateway to the Amazon region of Cusco, and where the river Vilcanota, about 2,850 meter above sea level.
The name has several approaches. According to the Aymara language, Ollantaytambo derives from ulla-nta-wi word, which means «place to see down»; the term tambo, is added later. For the Quechua language, the name comes from the word Ollanta (which is the name of an Inca captain whose story was saved as an oral tradition and written as drama by Antonio Valdez, a priest of Urubamba, the mid-eighteenth century) and the term, tambo, a Spanish derivation of the Quechua word tampu; which means «city that offers lodging, food and comfort to travelers.»
The archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo was a strategic military, religious and agricultural center. The architectural scenario is of exceptional interest by the size, style and originality of its buildings.
Ollantaytambo is another archaeological park which are attributed different functions. Because of its strategic location. Ollantaytambo was a military construction built to protect the Inca capital of possible Antis invasions. It is also said to have been built to enable paths to Antisuyo.
It was built during the Inca period as a fortified area, including a temple, terraces and an urban area. Two sections can be distinguished: one was named «Aracama Ayllu», an area related to worship and religion; and the other, «Qosqo Ayllu», was dedicated to housing. It was an important administrative centre that probably also fulfilled military functions, as suggested by its walls and turrets. Traces of ancient paths and aqueducts are found here.
Ollantaytambo town is known as the «Pueblo Inca Vivo» (Living Inca Town), and its inhabitants still observe very ancient customs and traditions. From here, tourists can visit the town of Willow, whose inhabitants, who speak Quechua, are distinguished by their red clothes identifying them as members of a unique group, setting them apart from the rest of the region.
What no one disputes is that it was a very fortified city, surrounded by a wall with pukaras or strengths. The main one is called the Real Casa del Sol; but we can also find the strengths and Inkapintay Choqana on the left side of the Urubamba River.
It is one of the few cities that still maintains the Inca urban planning. It is divided into two parts by the Patacancha river: the first (east) is of octagonal shape with blocks of different sizes, and the second (west) is ceremonial, where is the Plaza Mañay Racay known as Aracma Ayllu.
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