Ollantaytambo, the Sacred Valley.

The Sacred Valley

Ollantaytambo is an ancient town, which has been continuously inhabited since 13th century. The town was named for Ollantay, the Inca general who expanded the frontiers of Tawantinsuyo as far north as Colombia and as far south as Argentina during the reign of the Inca Pachacutec. The general asked for the hand of the emperor’s daughter, a request Pachacutec refused. Accomplished thought Ollantay was, the general was still a commoner. The general rebelled against the ruler and was imprisoned.

The better preserved part of Ollantaytambo.

The fortress was the site of the greatest Inca victory over the Spanish during the war conquest. The Manco Inca fled to the fortress in 1537, but a Spanish general Pizarro took the town a little bit latter.

The ruins of the fortress

All cities in Inca’s time had a temple to the sun, and a common food storage place which was placed in inaccessible area for the protection. It says that Inca lived in homogeny society sharing food and access in between and working on common goals. Incas believed in many Gods, but the main was a God of Sun. Thus, all the temples were built as high as possible and were facing East or West to observe the sun.

The temple of the Sun

To be on the top of the fortress and ramble through the ancient quarters gave me an undesirable feeling of freedom, appreciation of life and profound happiness.