Sri Subramaniar Temple, Saluvankuppam, Eclipse Mandapam, Sadras Fort, Alamparai Fort, Sri Vasantha Nayagi samedha Vadavamuka Agneeswarar Temple, Vedal, Sri Tirupuliswar Temple, Vayalur, Quarry near Valiyan Kuttai Ratam and Pidari Ratham, Mamallapuram, Iron age Burial site at Thiruporur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

09^th April 2016.

Even though it was very hot outside, enjoyed the Buckingham Canal trip led by Mr. Venkatesh, the Historian & the writer, Mr. Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy, and the curators Mr Shasvat and our young curator Nandan. The arrangement of the program & Coordination was excellent, which made the trip more enjoyable without the feel of the scorching sun.  The tour was planned in such a manner that, we had our breakfast and Lunch at A2B of Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram. When most of us could not see the cairn circles ( megalithic )  of Iron Age burial sites, we were fortunate to see more than 30 such sites. My sincere thanks to all the participants.

SRI SUBRAMANIAR TEMPLE - SALUVANKUPPAM

This archaeological site is very near Tiger Caves and is 6 KM north of Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram. This site was estimated to 4^th/5^th to 12^th/13^th century and dedicated to God Sri Subramanya. The exposed structure consists of balipeedam, vel, Artha mandapam, and sanctum. The Sanctum was built like a well. The temple was built with laterite stones, over which stone slabs are provided like plinth beams over which the walls are constructed with brick stones of various sizes. Some of the bricks are more than 10 inches. The mandapa pillars are removed from the site kept out and have the inscriptions. The tsunami-exposed rock has the inscription of Rajaraja Chozha and Pallava Period. The plinth surface was covered up to 10 feet by the sand.

LOCATION:    CLICK HERE

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ECLIPSE MANDAPAM

It is after Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram on ECR on the roadside. The mandapa might have been used as a Traveler's resting Mandapa ( வழிப்போக்கர் மண்டபம் ). Had seen two Dutch people's relief on the pillar. The pillars have reliefs of both Saiva and Vaishnava Deities ( Lord Shiva on Rishaba Vahana, Vishnu on Garuda, etc,. ), Munis / Rishis with headgear as Jadabandam, Dutch persons, A Nayak in Anjali hasta (maybe the person responsible for construction), erotic sculptures, etc., The Ceiling has the relief of The Kannappar Purana, Solar and Lunar eclipse, lotus medallion,  Purusha Mrugam, monkey with its baby, and Crocodile.

The mandapam pillar pothiyals/corbels are of mixed types from rectangular to Pushpa pothiyal with Vazhaipoo ( short). The mandapam might have been constructed during the 17th Century Nayak’s period.

LOCATION : 
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Portuguese / Danis bas-relief 

SADRAS FORT

Sadras was known as Rajanarayan Pattinam named after the Sambuvarayar Chieftain. During 1818 it was with Dutch and in 1848 Britishers took over the control of the fort.  Later it turned into Sadiravasagan  Pattinam again this was changed to Sathurangapattinam by Britishers. Kalpakkam Atomic Energy quarters were built adjacent to the fort.

The Sadras fort was established by the Dutch during the 17^th century, on this Coromandel Coast for trading the Muslin Cloths, Horses, edible oil, Pearl, Cotton, spices, salt, etc,. The fourth with about a 1-meter thickness wall was constructed with brick. The fort house, a cemetery, Church, gallows, office rooms, quarters for staff, Kitchen with a well inside, storage for the grains, stable for the horses, etc,. The cemetery has 16 graves and one is for a mother and her baby who died during delivery. This is in the form of a load-bearing structure (Sumai Thangi -சுமை தாங்கி). On one of the graves, the Sadras are mentioned as “SADRESPATNAMVOOR”. The fort was constructed with Bastions on the west side and watch round towers on the east side. The bastions are used to corner the enemy from the three corners of the fort and attack.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

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ALAMPARAI FORT.

Alamparai lies on the east coast called the Coromandel coast served as a Fort as well as a sea origin from ancient Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Sangam Literary work, Sirpupanatruppadai mentions that this region is called Idaikazhi Nadu ( one of the regions of ancient Tamil Nadu ) and also describes the region and the activities of the people. The existing ruined fort and dockyard at Alamparai was built by the Muslim rulers during the 18^th century CE, from 1736 to 1740 CE. The fort was under the control of the Nawab of Carnatic Dost. Alikhan. Nawab Ali Khan donated this fort and Dockyard to Thakkana’s Subedar Musafarjung a French Captain in the year 1750 CE for the benefit/favor he got from the French Captain Duple. Later in the year 1760, the fort was destroyed by the Britishers, when the French diminished their power.

The square-shaped fort with Towers at angles ( 4 corners), was built of bricks and lime mortar. It occupies an area of nearly 15 acres and the length of the Dockyard is about 100 meters. Alamparai was also known as Alambarva, and Alampuravi. Zari, Clothes, salt, and Ghee were exported from the Alamparai port. Alamparai Kasu & Varahan ( Coins ) were minted at the Alamparai Mint. Pottipattan who was in charge of the mint construction and a Shiva temple, a Big pond, and a Choultry on the highway for the benefit of the pilgrims who traveled on the east coast from Kasi to Rameswaram. This highway lies at a distance of two miles on the western side of Alamparai Fort. This Fort is maintained ( No maintenance ?) and protected by the state Department of Archaeology.

LOCATION:    CLICK HERE
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VEDAL - SRI VADAVAMUKA AGNEESWARAR TEMPLE.

This is the last Pallava and early Chozha period brick temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple faces east. There are two Ambal in a separate sanctum facing south. There are many changes between our last visit to this visit. The fence has been erected. A new Vinayagar sannidhi was constructed and Ambal sannidhi renovation is in progress. Still, the Gajabirushta vimanam of the main sanctum is vertically cracked from top to bottom. It was learned that local people are doing thirupani with their own funds.   For the details of our last visit through the R.E.C.H Foundation:   Click Here

LOCATION: CLICK HERE
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SRI TIRUPULISWAR VAIKUNTESWAR TEMPLE - VAYALUR  

A CHOZHA PERIOD GAJABIRUSHTA VIMANA STONE TEMPLE.

The temple complex has the Sannadhi for Tirupuliswar, Vinayagar, Sri Vaikundavasa Perumal, and Angayarkanni Thayar. In Shiva’s sanctum koshtam Vinayagar, Guru Bhagavan ( Dakshinamurthy ), Vishnu ( in Lingothbavar place ) Brahma, and Durgai. All the sandhis including Rajagopuram are up to ceiling level without vimanam. Inscriptions are there at the adhistanam of Sri Tirupuliswar sanctum.

This temple is under the control of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

This part of this post was written as a separate post with updated details like Architecture, History, and Inscriptions. Please Click this link for the updated post.  

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

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MAMALLAPURAM/ MAHABALIPURAM – QUARRY, NEAR VALIYAN KUTTAI RATHAM AND PIDARI RATHAM.

This is at the entrance to Mamallapuram/Mahabalipuram from Pondy to Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram. A beautiful Pillayar pasa angusam, relief greets us at the entrance. Both Valiyan Kuttai Ratham and Pidari Ratham are unfinished. We could see not only the chisel marks but also the chisel scrapping in lengthwise. Behind both of the Ratham, we could see, the abandoned quarry, where the granite hill is split into blocks or slabs. First, the required area is marked and square holes to a depth of 4 to 5 inches depth are formed. Bamboo was tightly hammered in the holes. Then water is poured on the bamboo, which expands and splits the granite into blogs or slabs.  

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

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THIRUPORUR IRON AGE BURIAL GROUND SITES

These are the megalithic burial sites belonging to the end of the Stone Age to the Iron Age. These are dated between 1000 to 300 BCE. The term Megalithic gets its name from the fact that the people of this culture built structures using large boulders and stones. These structures are available in plenty on the west side of Thiruporur town and the south side of Shiva temple on the hill. Since the boulders are available plenty on the hill the same was utilized to build these structures. Some of the structures are intact and many of the structures were incomplete due to the removal of the boulders for construction by the present people. We could also see some samples of iron slag, Yes, and not the laterite stones.

  

The site belongs to the archaeological survey of India and a warning board was also erected. But the total place is not protected by fence arrangement. A lot of glass bottles are scattered around the whole area. We could explore a small area in which we could see more than 30 circles. There are more such circles available on the hill up to the lake bed. We understood that despite warning signs houses were built and encroached on by the building developers.  

For more details http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=26215

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

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The piece of iron slag 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA:---