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Get to know the Apukunaq Tianan or the Abode of the Gods in Cusco

Posted On: 04 April 2023 #TierrasVivas 1205
Get to know the Apukunaq Tianan or the Abode of the Gods in Cusco

The House of the Gods of Cusco is also known as Apukunaq Tianan of Cusco and comes to be a complex of lithic sculptures recently carved by a cusqueño named Michel de Titan Monteagudo Mejía. It is a place with its own magic due to the enormous size of the sculptures that measure between approximately 4 to 8 meters high. This modern and wonderful attraction was dedicated to the Gods of the Inca culture such as: La Pachamama, the Puma, the three-dimensional door and the Mirador (still under construction). It is currently a fashionable tourist attraction, especially for local and national visitors, hopefully it will also be for foreign tourists.

Location and distance:

It is located 8 kilometers northeast of the city of Cusco — at 3850 meters above sea level; It is part of the Sencca sector of the Poroy district, just 40 minutes by public transport and 20 minutes by taxi from the historic center of Cusco.

Altitude:

The Apukunaq Tiana is located at 3450 meters above sea level.

What does Apukunaq Tianan mean?

The original name of this contemporary artistic monument comes from the second most spoken language in Peru: Quechua or Runa Simi, that is to say "Apukunaq Tianan" means "The Abode of the Gods".

What to see?

Once you arrive at this place you will have the joy of observing several sculptures carved in stone and the vast majority are representations of the Gods and mythical characters of the Inca culture; Below we mention and explain each of the sculptures in greater detail: 

  • La Pachamama: This sculpture that represents Mother Earth, is a huge face that seems to emerge from the bowels of the mountain, this figure also welcomes all visitors.
  • The Puma: Without a doubt, this sculpture impresses every visitor, the Puma was the sacred animal of the Inca period and even for many scholars of Inca history, this feline is part of the mystical traditions of Andean man today.
  • The three-dimensional door: The representations of three-dimensional doors are the order of the day worldwide and in Cusco our artist Michel de Titan Monteagudo Mejía portrayed one almost 3 meters high and on it we have the representation of the Sun and exactly in the central part del Sol we can appreciate the face of an Inca emperor who wears a crown of three sacred leaves of Coca leaf.
  • El Mirador: From this point we have a spectacular panoramic view of the entire beautiful landscape of this area.

How was the Apukunaq Tianan born?

The Apukunaq Tianan, was born thanks to a Cusco project in which it was proposed to keep the tradition of stone carving alive. This house shows its visitors a set of representative sculptures of the Pachamama, water, the cosmos, the deities, the runa (man), among others. 

During its elaboration, some traditional and important rituals were carried out in order to show respect to the deities, also some legends and myths were born that help with the curiosity of knowing this interesting place. 

Let's talk about the myth of the dwelling of the gods

The people arrived and were taken face to face with these sculptures of approximately 10 meters in height, they are really impressed, with such a work of art made by the hand of man. And as is natural for us, human beings ask themselves questions that are answered thanks to contact with nature. 

It should be noted that this construction was carried out on virgin land and that during this construction some of the people who worked, point out that the mystical beings called and known as mukis or goblins, made their appearance and also claimed to be part of this new tourist attraction in the Cusco. Therefore, it remains to carry out some representative works of the owners of this virgin land located near the well-known Arch of Titica Tica, we refer once again to the Mukis or elves. 

Why is it recommended to visit the Apunaq Tianan?

The Apunaq Tianan, is the perfect place to spend a family day, with friends, with the boyfriend or with ourselves, because once we are at the top, we can see part of the city adorned with beautiful green hills, with an incredible blue sky, decorated with white clouds, which make this the perfect place to think and reflect. 

What was the procedure to perform this job?

Since the time of the Incas, the people of Cusco have practiced different methods of interfamily collective work, whose objective was to benefit the ayllu. This working method is currently being practiced in various provinces of the Cusco region. 

For the construction of the Apukunaq Tianan, the Ayni method is applied, a family reciprocal work system between the members of the ayllu, destined for agricultural work and house construction. In simple words, it's something like, I give you this now and you give me back when I need it. 

Thanks to the practice of Ayni, we can now see great results made by our ancestors. 

What is the best time to visit this contemporary attraction?

The climate of Cusco is relatively temperate with quite sunny days and cold nights. In general, the Cusco region enjoys two well-marked seasons a year and these are: The dry season that goes from April to October and the rainy season that goes from November to March.

It is also important to mention that in the rainy season the weather is very changeable, the weather conditions can change from a super sunny day to a day with torrential rain in a matter of minutes. The average annual temperature ranges between 13ºC and 15ºC.

In short, we recommend you visit this modern attraction in the dry season so that a good experience is 100% guaranteed.

Are there restaurants at this location?

No, we recommend that you bring your snack or snack. 

How to get to the Abode of the Gods?

1st option: Economic 

Take a public and/or collective transport of the Expreso Santiago company, you can board it three blocks from the Plaza de Armas of the city of Cusco, exactly at the Puente Rosario bus stop, in front of the courtyard of the Qoricancha temple; the cost of public transport is 1 Sol.

This section of the trip will take you by local bus about 30 minutes, then proceed to get off at the final stop of this company and then take the service of a collective taxi (15 minutes or, failing that, take a walk of approximately 40 minutes). . The price of the collective taxi is 2 Soles and the private taxi is 10 Soles approx.

2nd option: By bike

We recommend you to take a taxi-station (big taxi) from the historical center of Cusco to the Tica Tica Arch, the price is approx 20 Soles, then you can start riding a bicycle on your own, just ask any local about the route to continue.

What to wear?

  • Sunscreen
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • A bottle of water
  • Nuts or Snacks
  • Rain Poncho
  • Cash

Best Tours in Peru

Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views. 

If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.

Tierras Vivas Travel Blog

Edwin Caviedes Profesional guide

Edwin Caviedes is the founder and manager of Tierras Vivas, a company that benefits native people communities.