Templo de la Luna

The Temple of the Moon (Templo de la Luna) is an Inca ceremonial site built inside a natural cave on the north face of Huayna Picchu, 390 metres below its summit near Machu Picchu, Peru. Also called the Great Cavern, it features superb stonework, a stepped throne carved into the rock, vaulted niches, and a double-jamb doorway typical of high-status Inca architecture. Rediscovered in 1936, the temple's exact purpose remains debated -- theories include a royal tomb, place of worship, sacrificial altar, and ceremonial bathing complex. Recent research in 2026 suggests it may have functioned as a mausoleum for Inca elite.