Wandering the beautiful, cobblestoned, and historical streets of Cusco, you’ll come across a curious water fountain in the historical center. This fountain, as Cusqueños call it, “the Paccha,” represents Incan creativity, spirituality, and respect for nature.
Therefore, join us as we explore the fascinating story and meaning behind the Pumachupan Paccha. You’ll see why it is an essential stop for history enthusiasts and curious explorers like you!
What is the Pumaqchupan Paccha?
Firstly, the Quechua, the ancient pre-Inca and Inca official language, it’s a language based on onomatopoeia, a type of word created from imitating sounds of nature, animals, or objects.
Properly speaking, the word “paccha” comes from the sound a fountain makes when water falls “pacc-chaaa”, “pac-chaa”,”pacc-chaa”.
Consequently, “Pumacchupan” roughly translates to “puma’s tail” and implies Cusco’s puma shape. As you may know, Inca Pachacutec built the city with a puma shape, a sacred animal for them.
Starting in the Sacsayhuaman site (the head) and two rivers delineating the animal’s shape, the Saphy and Tullumayo rivers.
The paccha is located in a strategic place; the puma’s tail is right where the paccha is. The design isn’t merely functional; it’s also symbolic. Water was vital to the Incas; they considered it extremely valuable.
Paccha’s iconographic description
The Sun of Echenique
Former Peruvian president Jose Rufino Echenique gave Cusco’s authorities this pre-Hispanic gold and silver piece in 1853. Since then, it has become the official shield and symbol for Cusco. Later, from 2021, the Echenique’s sun has been in the middle of the Cusco flag. This sun-shaped piece was worshiped by the Incas as it represented Inti, the powerful sun god.
The Puma
The puma was a sacred animal in Inca culture. It represented strength, courage, and intelligence. So, this beautiful animal also symbolizes the Kay Pacha, the earthly world. Pachacutec Emperor, knowing what the puma represented for his people, made the city layout with the shape of a puma.
The Chacana
The chakana, also known as the Andean Cross, features a stepped cross with 12 points and a hole in the center. Each part of the chakana carries important meanings about life and the Andean Cosmovision. The three steps on each arm reflect the Andean idea of three worlds:
Hanan Pacha (the upper world: sun, moon)
Kay Pacha (the earthly world: man, woman)
Ukhupacha (the inner world: water, earth)
Circles and Elliptical Shapes
Circles represent vital energy, which keeps the world in constant motion. Elliptical shapes symbolize the Earth, which has an ovoid form. In Inca times, these shapes were linked to predicting rains for harvests. They were believed to fertilize the earth and water, giving life.
Flashes of Lightning
Lightning was a major deity in Inca times, with its own temple in Coricancha. Its divine force, destructive power, and origin as fire earned it a place of worship, even within Saqsayhuaman’s structure
The Coca Leaf
Coca leaves (Erythroxylon coca) played a vital role in the Inca civilization, closely tied to governance, economy, and religion. Their cultivation and use extended from Argentina to Nicaragua and the Caribbean Islands. Dominican missionary Tomás Ortiz noted coca plantations along the Venezuelan coast in 1499.
In the Inca era, coca leaves were sacred and controlled, and used in religious rituals. After the conquest, two opposing views emerged among the colonizers: The Church sought to ban coca, deeming it a demonic plant linked to the Andean religion.
Some argued that coca was vital for the colonial economy. It helped Indigenous workers endure harsh, exploitative conditions. Coca cultivation and trade became a significant source of revenue, such as the tithe that funded Cusco’s Cathedral.
Paccha General Characteristics
Design and Creation: Municipality of Cusco
Height: 9 meters (with a 7-meter waterfall)
Width: 10 meters
Water Flow: 120 liters per second
Volume: 65 cubic meters
Area: 550 square meters
Hydraulic System: Recycling with two electric pumps.
Lighting: External reflector system
Features:
A 7-meter waterfall supplied by two side streams representing the Saphy and Tullumayo rivers.
Upper pool with an interior passage and two access bridges.
A bas-relief mural on the rear wall.
Six vertical jets in the fountain and two whirlpools at the back.
Purpose: Homage to labor
Inauguration Date: May 31, 1992
Nearby Attractions
Centro Artesanal
This is one of the most traditional markets you can find in Cusco, specializing in handcrafts and souvenirs you can bring to your home. Inside this market, you can find a mini museum where you can get in for free. You can find this market next to the Paccha.
Coricancha
This place is the ancient temple of the sun, dedicated to Inti, the sun god. As we said before, Inti was the most important deity in the Inca Empire, so Coricancha was probably the most important sun god worship inca site.
Currently, in the upper part, you can see the Santo Domingo convent. It’ll take you 5 minutes from the Paccha to get there.
Plaza de Armas
This place is the most important Cusco Square; this central plaza is a historical and tourist hub. In Inca times, it used to divide hanan and hurin Cusco, or the upper and lower parts of the city.
The atmosphere you’ll find there is different, and you can breathe inspiration and history. The plaza is a 10-minute walk from the Paccha, and it offers shops, top restaurants, attractions, and more.
Pachacutec Museum
5 minutes walking from the Paccha, you can see a towering monument with an Inca figure on top. That one is Pachacutec, probably the most important Inca emperor of all. Inside the structure, there’s a museum where you can learn more about Inca history.
Conclusion
According to the Inca religion, the city of Cusco was the center of the Empire and the universe, which is why you can see many mysteries that need to be solved. We encourage you to visit our city so you can solve these and more mysteries waiting for you.
Remember that, if you want to visit Peru and Cusco, you can rely on Viagens Machu Picchu. We’re a reputable travel agency that specializes in Peru and all its destinations.
You can contact us to learn more about our packages and special deals. Peru and Cusco are waiting for you!
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