arrived in Sugamuxi, sacred City of the Sun where his soldiers burned the Sun Temple. The cacique Tundama heard about the invading foreigners and tried to win time while hiding his treasures from the Spanish. One of his men proposed to surrender to the soldiers armed with superior weapons, and Tundama cut off his ears and left hand. At the end of 1539, another Spanish conquistador who proved himself in the Kingdom of Quito and Peru, Baltasar Maldonado, entered the Tundama territories and after several battles Tundama surrendered to the Spanish rule. Tundama was killed by a hammer of Maldonado in late December 1539. Tundama in Muisca history Colonial period During the colonial period of the newly established state New Kingdom of Granada, Duitama was converted to catholicism by friars of Santo Domingo, arriving in 1556. They held their positions until 1775. Modern Duitama was not founded until 1819, before Simón Bolívar liberated the later state of Gran Colombia from the Spanish rule. Modern age Duitama was an agricultural community that grew after the installation of the train station in 1923 and the connection with the Colombian capital via highway. From 1950 onwards the city hosted more industry. International events In 1995, Duitama was the second city in Latin America to host the UCI Road World Championships. The first city to host that event was San Cristóbal, Venezuela in 1977. Tourism In Duitama the touristic village Pueblito Boyacense is a popular destination. The village is composed of colonial houses. Born in Duitama Camila Pinzón, model and Miss World Colombia 2022 Alberto Camargo, former professional cyclist Édgar Fonseca, professional cyclist Daniel Rincón, former professional cyclist Oliverio Rincón, former professional cyclist Francisco Rodríguez Maldonado, former professional cyclist Gallery References External links Animated video about Tundama, showing the former lake Populated places established in 1819 1819 establishments in the Spanish Empire