Waqrapukara – “horn-shaped fortress”

Waqrapukara – “horn-shaped fortress”

Waqrapukara, translated as the “horn-shaped fortress”, in Quechua: Waqrapukara, from waqra, ‘horn’ and pukara, ‘fortress or barracks’

Route to Waqrapukara

It is a pre-Inca and Inca site, located in the Pomacanchi district, in the department of Cusco, Peru.

Waprapukara refers to the summit’s topographic outcrop formation, but has also been called Llamapukara, meaning “flame fortress”, and Llaqtapukara, meaning “city barracks”.

Waqrapukara was built by the Qanchi ethnic group on a mountain peak overlooking the Apurimac River, located 4,000 meters above sea level.

According to legend, the Qanchi were ruled by T’ito Qosñipa, who fought against the Incas on the slopes of Mount Phiñaypampa. The Qanchi were defeated and fled to Waqrapukara, which was besieged for 15 days.

 Waqrapukara Fortress

T’ito Qosñipa was forced to capitulate, but in exchange for swearing loyalty to the Inca, he and his warriors were saved from execution. As punishment for the Qanchi’s defiance, the Inca selected 100 Qanchi warriors and cut off one of their ears to mark them as “lemaqanchis.”

Waqrapukara has been described as a residence of the Inca nobility, but also a center of astronomical observation, and at the same time a religious center attributed to the sun, the moon and Viracocha, the great creative deity in pre-Inca and Inca mythology. .

Waqrapukara consists of a citadel in the middle of a rocky spur, where there are two groups of enclosures that are separated by a large central space. This is surrounded by eight artificial terraces with retaining walls that follow the topography, and a series of enclosures at the east and west end.