Inti Mach'ay and the Royal Feast of the Sun[edit]

Inti Mach'ay is a special cave used to observe the Royal Feast of the Sun. This festival was
celebrated during the Incan month of Qhapaq Raymi. It began earlier in the month and concluded on
the December solstice. On this day, noble boys were initiated into manhood by an ear-piercing ritual
as they stood inside the cave and watched the sunrise. [54]
Architecturally, Inti Mach'ay is the most significant structure at Machu Picchu. Its entrances, walls,
steps, and windows are some of the finest masonry in the Incan Empire. The cave also includes a
tunnel-like window unique among Incan structures, which was constructed to allow sunlight into the
cave only during several days around the December solstice. For this reason, the cave was
inaccessible for much of the year.[55] Inti Mach'ay is located on the eastern side of Machu Picchu, just
north of the "Condor Stone." Many of the caves surrounding this area were prehistorically used as
tombs, yet there is no evidence that Mach'ay was a burial ground. [56]