Andean Explorations – 11: Temple of Fertility
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Ever since some European backpackers told me in broken English that “We make pictures at Penis temple”, I was curious to check that place out.
Inka Uyo
It’s a rock, it’s a farm, it’s an erect penis! The Inka Uyo
Chucuito (चुकुअीतो) is a little village about 18 km south of Puno along the coast of Lake Titicaca. There is nothing much to see here except for an archeological site called “Inca Uyo” (अीन्का अुयो). “Uyo”, in Quechuan (one of the original ‘native’ language of central Andes and the second largest spoken languages in Peru) literally means ‘penis’.
Dedicated to that idea, was the ancient Temple of Fertility at Chukuito. The site contains dozens of mushroom shaped erect penises few feet long. They are symbolically pointing towards the Inti (Sun God) and Pacha mama (Mother Earth).
A penis, hard as a rock, symbolically mating with Pacha mama, the Mother Earth
Someone told me that on specific days, virgin women arrive here at night, perform rituals to the God of fertility and sit on the phalluses. It is a symbolic ritual to increase their fertility.
A fake site?
Temple of Fertility
I was surprised that the Spanish left this site intact while they destroyed most of other Incan/Pagan temples. Infact, there is a large colonial church right next to this temple! The other thing I observed (and is quite obvious) was that the penises were circumcised… something that the Incas did not do. Some articles question the authenticity of the temple in its current form, although the authenticity of the stones itself is not questioned. Someone might just have rearranged and touristified what was otherwise a broken temple.
I purchased some phallic souvenirs and came back to Puno.
Look! A foreigner
Me and a school boy in a Combi
Traveling with local people in the crowded Combi was the best part of this journey. They were all staring at me, watching my every action, and even laughing at my broken Spanish. 
Earlier that day, a roadside banana seller told me in Spanish how to go to Chucoito (I was nodding as if I understood everything). From the local Collectivo stop in Puno, a ride to Chucuito costs only Uno (one) sol. The lady money collector however was teasing me and asking for “Uno Americano Dólar, Señor” (अुनो अामेरीकान्यो दोलर, सेन्योर) while I went “Si” (सी=yes) and joined the laughter.
A Collectivo could be any vehicle such as a bus, mini van or a car that is used for public transport. Specifically, a Combi is a shared taxi. The driver will wait until the vehicle is full and then leave. Often he will stuff more people in. Combi’s in Peru are the same as ‘Tuk-Tuk’ or ‘Phat-Phat’ (or any other names I dont know) in India or ‘Sherut’ in Israel or ‘Marshrutka’ in Russia or ‘Jitney’ in US/Canada.
Inside a Combi just before it got too crowded. Women are usually seen wearing round hats.
The rest of the town is pretty much typical – A Plaza de Armas, Churches, few shops around and houses and fields.
Colonial Church at the Plaza de Armas, Chucuito
For the complete photo set, slideshow and comments, please see my Puno Photo Gallery
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Lovely pics….nice writing
↵Uyo, I mean, Ayyo..What a farm!!
↵Are the phallic souvenirs on display now that you are back in Toronto? That’s a nice shot inside the Combi.:)
Hee Heee…..
Worshiping of penis is something like worshiping shivalingam in some areas of India and the purpose is same.
I wonder how much more traffic you’ll get now.
↵Ha Ha Ha…..
Well, well! What d’ya know? I thought we had the monopoly on phallic symbolism.
↵all civilisations are obsessed with fertility rites…
↵Looks like you are avid traveler. I liked this full series…..nice & enjoyable! Peru looks to be must to visit. Adding it to my list
↵Learn something new and interesting every single time I come here, Penis Temple, who knew,lol.
↵Cool! Maybe they collaborated with the people who built the Konark Temple
↵Also, you don’t talk too much about food. What kinda stuff did you eat in all these places? How’s the street food?
↵that is a lot of peni (is that plural lol) I don’t even wan to know what that white stain is.
Interesting site….i saw a few fertility places in Asia..they’re all very symbolic huh
↵…and I thought they were mushrooms, lol. Thanks for sharing, great photography and story…Anna
↵Such temples exist in India though, although they dont carry phallic symbols , people believe that visiting some temples will make them fertile.
Interesting story btw lol…. u bought phallic souveneirs, who r u giving them to
? and no offense…but didnt u get turned on 
↵Meghna:
↵Thanks dear!
Cellu:
↵Yes, as a matter of fact I have a stone penis souvenir in my living room! It’s a topic of discussion usually.
Cuckoo
Yes, that was the whole point of this post. Even when I was visiting this place, I was thinking… hmm this would make a nice blog entry. hhehehe
Shivlinga is one of the dearest symbols of Hinduism. There are many more
↵Shantanu
↵I will write a post dedicated to food. I am not a big foodie liek you, plus being overly vegetarian restricts my diet in foreign countries.
Lakshmi
↵You couldn’t be right. Even in Tibet, I hear there is a (maybe there isn’t any after the Chinese destruction) a large temple dedicated to fertility.
Bob
↵Glad to hear that. You should visit India sometime
Sudipta
↵Konark? But thats a Sun temple. Did you mean Khajuraho?
Matt
↵LOL @ the white stain! Being the most basic human tendencies, its not surprising that most cultures love the reproductive organs
Anna
Peru, rather the entire south amerika, is worth visiting. Thanks for writing!
↵Yeah, I have posted a picture of a penis on the sidewalk of the city square in this village. It does look like a mushroom, an innocent mind would be fooled
Maverick
I gave some as gifts to friends but the largest sculpture is sitting in my living room.
↵Turned on? LOL by stone icons? hehehe, no that happens only with the real stuff
Annie
↵Yes do visit Peru, and the entire south america for that matter
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