Chavinda

Chavinda, which means "place of four winds" in the Purepecha language, is a small town in the Mexican state of Michoacán. It is located at an elevation of 5150 ft, about three hours' drive from Morelia and Guadalajara. The estimated population is about 15,000 people. Chavinda is the municipal seat for the municipality of Chavinda, in the state of Michoacán de Ocampo. Other small towns and villages included in this municipality are La Esperanza, San Juan Palmira, and El Tepehuaje. Chavinda was founded in 1840. The small town was developed as a religious center, and its early inhabitants believed Chavinda to be the doorway to heaven where the gods ascended and descended. The Purepecha people first settled in Chavinda in 1494, led by Rey...