Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku is a magnificent archaeological site that houses the pre-Inca empire's capital. Much about Tiwanaku is still unknown and the topic of scholarly discussion.

Tiwanaku's residents created a beautiful metropolis encompassing around 2.3 square kilometers, complete with monuments, temples, residences, and public structures. It was still prospering in 900 AD, but by the time the Incas discovered it in the mid-fifteenth century, it had been completely abandoned, having presumably deteriorated in the twelfth century.

What is left is extraordinary, and has sparked much discussion throughout the years. The many carved heads on the "Template" or Small Semi-Subterranean Temple, for example, were most likely supposed to depict people but have been interpreted to resemble aliens. This has given rise to various 'alternative' beliefs about who or what created Tiwanaku.

Tiwanaku is now a major tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors may see its many monuments, gates – including the well-known Gateway of the Sun – and statues, all of which witness to the significance of this once-royal city.

Location: Tiwanaku Municipality