Inca Ruin - Tambomachay

Our horse riding day included several Inca ruins. We first rode the horses up the hill, and then dismounted for the short walk to Tambomachay.

(Left - the entrance gate, with the picture of the "bath")

(Right - this was one of the few bird pictures that I had a chance to obtain)
The name comes from two Quechua (local language) words "Tampu", meaning collective housing, and "Mach'ay" which means a resting place.

There are actually two sets of Inca ruins here, and last time I visited the other one, so this was a change.

(Left - the path to the actual ruins is bordered by these, alm o st paperbark like trees)
(Right - the ever present tourist goods are laid out, in the bright Inca colours)

(Left - the walk up to the "bath")

The construction was completely made from sculpted stone and was formed by four walls or terraces on the hill, made by irregular many-angled bases very well assembled. It shows four

great niches or vaulted niches in trapezoidal form of an average of 2 meters. In front of the building there was a circular watchtower that had defense and communication purposes.

(Right - the "Inca Maiden's Bath")

There is also "The Bath of the Ñusta" or "Inca Maiden’s Bath" which is made of two aqueducts that transport clean water all year long, and which flow into a small stone pond. This had to be a religious pond, where the Inca worshipped the water with the others in the Empire.

(Left - the structure at the end of the walk)

(Right - The "bath)

(Left - Liza and I pose on the small bridge across the stream)

(Right - with a background of the structure, our group poses -back - me and Gerald - front - Liz, Amanda and Maz)

"Everything leads us to think that the place where these ruins are located was the site of the Inca’s favorite residences like a resting spa, and at one time one of the main defensive systems of the Cusco Valley. It is also united to the Imperial Tradition of Pachacutec and Tupac Yupanqui".
(García Rosell, Archaeologist)