Overview:

is a pre-Inca archaeological site located on the shore of Lake Umayo. It is a collection of more than 40 chullpas or chignones (stone towers), pre-Inca tombs built by the Colla people as funerary monuments for their nobles and important members of the community. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Peru
Prominent Features:

The Sillustani Funerary Towers near Puno in Peru are one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Peru. The towers, located around 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) from Puno on the northern shores of Lake Umayo, date back to the days of the Inca Empire. The towers stand at about 20-30 feet (6-9 meters) tall, and were used by the Incas for the burial of their dead. The towers are made of stone and have been nicknamed ‘chullpas’ by locals. The towers are built in the form of a truncated pyramid, and have a small doorway in the side. Inside the towers one can find walls and niches, often containing the remains of mummies that have remained intact since the time of their burial. A local legend states that the towers are the tombs of local Inca chiefs, and that during the Inca festivals, the chiefs would come down to Lake Umayo to be taken to the underworld. The Sillustani Funerary Towers are an important part of Peru’s cultural heritage, and are one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. As the towers are located on the shores of Lake Umayo, visitors can enjoy stunning views of the lake from the towers. The site also offers visitors a great insight into the customs and cultures of ancient Peru. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Peru.

History:

The Sillustani Funerary Towers, also known as chullpas, are a prehistoric legacy located to the north of Puno, on the shores of Lake Umayo in Peru. These impressive architectural structures were built by the Collas and Aymara people of the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The towers remain one of the most spectacular cultural attractions in the area. Constructed to be used as virtual tombs by the high-ranking families of the Colla and Aymara, the towers were built of stone blocks in the form of truncated cones covered by a large capstone. Some of the towers have a secondary structure, created to store burial offerings. The towers reach up to 30 feet in height and contain several burial chambers, depending on the rank of the families. The location of each tower is also significant, with many of them located at crossroads, or near deposits of freshwater. Today, visitors can explore up to 38 towers, which vary in style, size and decoration. It is believed that up to 70 towers once stood at the site, and that many of them collapsed through time due to lack of maintenance. Each of the remaining towers provides a window into the cultural and religious beliefs of the Colla and Aymara peoples, attracting thousands of visitors to the area every year. Sillustani is part of the Unesco Universally Fraternity of Humanity Heritage and is one of the most important archeological sites in Central Andean Peru. Visit one of the famous monuments of Peru with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Sillustani Funerary Towers are a unique cluster of pre-Incan tombs with a mystery that continues to puzzle anthropologists today. 2. The construction of this site dates back to approximately 1200 to 1300 A.D. 3. The towers were used by the Aymara people, an indigenous group which lived in the area, as funerary monuments for their most esteemed members. 4. These towers, known as “Chullpas”, were built in a circular shape and were constructed literally one stone at a time. 5. Each one of these towers is highly decorated. You will find a mix of geometric shapes of diamond, lines, circles and zigzags with some human figures drawn in them. 6. Alongside the Chullpas, the ancient Aymara people also built large stepped underground tombs made out of stone. These tombs were sealed off with large carved stone blocks. 7. The site was declared a “National Cultural Heritage” by the Peruvian government in 1991. 8. Sillustani is situated on an elevated plain, about 4,000 feet above sea level, and offers some breathtaking views. One of the historical monuments of Peru, it tells the story of a bygone era