Hero Stone / Veerakallu, Sati Stone / Nadukarkal, Dolmens and Menhirs at Betalada near Kotagiri, in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu.

17^th March 2019.

It was planned to visit some Hero & Sati stones with Dolmens near Kotagiri after visiting Karikkaiyur Rock Arts. It was too late when we returned after visiting the Rock Arts. We missed the hero stones of Melur near Coonoor, for want of time and the distance from Kotagiri. The posts written are not in the sequence of visit.

HERO, SATI STONES/ VEERAKALLU & DOLMENS & MENHIR AT BETALADA.

These hero and sati stone group are available in an Amman Temple and initially admission was denied to the ladies and latter allowed after washing their legs. The group consists of 3 hero & sati stones of 4 tier and 2 tier and a Pulikuthi Sati stone. In the 4 tier and two tier hero & sati  stones are not installed for individuals, but for a group. Some hero has two wives. The wives are holding lemon ( like Karnataka Sati “ondikai Masti” ) in their right hand and liquor pot in their left hand. In one of the Hero Cum Sati stone a bas-relief of  “Madu kuthi pattan” is there. The heros are holding sword, spear and Valari ( It was told this type of weapon is the specialty of this region to fight with the Britishers ). In addition to this there is a  Dolmen. It was told that the above three Hero cum sati stones are in dolmens, latter they were dismantled and brick structure was built.  As per the experts these Hero & Sati stones belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century.  There is a medium height  Menhir at the entrance of the temple. This temple is being maintained by the Villagers.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Pulikuthi Satikal

 Dolmen

  Menhir

 Amman Temple

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Hero Stone / Sati Stones / Veerakallu, Dolmens at Banagudi and Sholurmattam near Kotagiri in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu.

17^th March 2019.

It was planned to visit some Hero & Sati stones with Dolmens near Kotagiri after visiting Karikkaiyur Rock Arts. It was too late when we returned after visiting the Rock Arts. We missed the hero stones of Melur near Coonoor, for want of time and the distance from Kotagiri. The posts written are not in the sequence of visit.

HERO STONES WITH DOLMENTS AT BANAGUDI.

Since the actual route was known we trekked a small hill and pass through a Tea estate. This group of about 15 Dolmens are under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).  A big Dolmen houses 4 tier two Hero stones. These hero stones are for a group of heros. One of the Hero stone has the Shiva Linga on the top row.

It was told that these Hero stones are worshiped by the “Boyar” community people and Local people call this as Pandi Kovil. Based on the Iconography these hero stones may belongs to 16^th Century.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

HERO & SATI STONE AT SHOLURMATTAM.

The visit to this hero stone is not in our list and happened to see this, on the way to karikkaiyur. In front it was written as Spatha Kanniyar Temple at Selakal hada. When we peeped inside and found this hero cum sati stone is being worshiped as Saptha kanniyar. The Nadukal is of 3 tiers and bottom tier is partly visible out side the ground level. On the top the reliefs of Sun and moon. Also we found this Hero cum Sati stone was installed inside a dolmen and side walls are constructed with brick at a latter date. This Hero Cum sati stone may belongs to 16^th Century.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Prehistoric Rock Arts and Paintings at Porivarai / Karikkaiyur / கரிக்கையூர், near Kotagiri in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu.

17^th March 2019.

It was a long wish to see this prehistoric Mesolithic period ( 8000 BCE to 2700 BCE ), rock arts in a naturally formed  rock shelter at Porivarai near Karikkaiyur in Nilgiris District. The guides who led us showed the boundary line of Nilgiris Districts and Erode District and pointed out that Porivarai is in Erode District ( Kongu Nadu ). This visit was nicely organized by Mr Gireesh and Mr Kumaravel with good food and transport. Thanks to both of them and the participants.

We, 15 heritage enthusiasts started in a van from Coimbatore and reached Sholurmattam near Kotagiri. The Karikkaiyur is about 15 KM from there. Since the road from Sholurmattam was very bad, we hired two Jeeps/ Vans and reached Karikkaiyur. Karikkaiyur is dominated by the Irula, a hill tribe community. From the Karikkaiyur village, the local boys guided us to reach the spot, which is about 3.5 KM. The path was  narrow with thorny bushes on both sides. The slopes are slippery due to the tree leaves on foot paths. Also it was frightening to see the elephant’s dung on the path. Finally reached the spot.

The spot was identified in the year 2004 by Mr G Chandrasekaran and K T Gandhirajan. The rock shelter  is about 300 feet high and 500 feet long facing east. Honey combs are hanging from the top.  The Shelter’s entrance is narrow and a deep valley in front, which makes this shelter as a secured place. It can easily accommodate 100 to 150 peoples. The Rock arts are drawn from about 3 feet to 20 feet high. What sort of arrangement has been done to draw above 8 feet is not known. The Rock arts are done during different periods by different artists. There are more than 500 images drawn of which few of them are eroded due to weather & Climate. These arts are drawn with white ochre and few are colored with kavi  on the white ochre. Kavi colored arts are believed to be of earlier period.

The images are from animals to Humans. A series of Bulls, taming and domestication of bulls & wild animals, Deer, Elephants, domestic fowl, men riding on the animals, men carrying a boar after hunting, war scenes, Training for the war, a mongoose and snake fight, cattle herds with calf. Some of the group arts represents the celebration of functions with playing musical instruments, animals hunting for food, fighting scenes and cattle herds. The painter remembers the scenes that he had seen/ witnessed  and reproduced in the form of rock arts. Group paintings are more compared to the individual paintings.

Celebration with playing of drum  

The prehistoric arts gives us the information of Social & economic activities, the way of their life, ideology, Culture, environmental context, the stages of changes in the activities of human beings, the materials & tools used. It was also told that a group of people with a bull indicates that, the recent period game of “Jallikattu” was played about 5000 years before itself.

It is a sad to notice that recent paintings with names were done by the miscreants, which spoils the prehistoric paintings. 

  

HOW TO REACH:

The Site Porivarai is about 3.5 KM from Karikkaiyur, which is about  is about 40 KM from Kotagiri, 15 KM from Sholurmattam. Bus facility is available from Sholurmattam. Since road is  too bad, Jeep / Van may be hired form Sholurmattam.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Mr Kirushnamurthy may be contacted through his mobile for help and guide on 904749699 and 9487342108.

LOCATION:  Co ordinates  11.468654 and 76.997490

https://www.google.co.in/maps/@11.468654,76.997490,1736m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

It is possible that members of the tribes were recruited in to the royal armies and become acquainted with army dress. Since they are standing in a straight line, the war might have taken in plains.

Cattle herd moving for grazing

a cattle with its calf

Celebrating the boar hunting 

The depiction of skeleton and intestine of living animals- X. ray expression of prehistoric rock arts. 

A bird in Karikkaiyur village
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Velliangiri Andavar Temple / வெள்ளியங்கிரி ஆண்டவர் கோயில் / “THEN KAILAYAM” - Velliangiri Hills, Poondi in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

16^th March 2019.

Based on the previous years experience decided to trek the Velliangiri Hills otherwise known as “Then Kailayam”, the abode of Lord Shiva, immediately after the Maha Shivaratri. Even-though it was  planned 2 months before, I am not sure of making this year due to pain in the right Knee. ( trekked 4 years  / times with  a metal plate  with 7 screws to give strength to broken right leg.... ).  Finally boarded the train to Coimbatore from Chennai. We 5, peoples reached Poondi, the base temple of Sri Velliangiri Andavar,  around  mid night.  Purchased the  bamboo sticks, depositing the Camera in the clock room and started our trekking at 00.30 hrs. At the beginning of steps to hill forest officials checks the baggage for any plastic items. ( Carry bags, water bottle labels, match boxes,  etc are not allowed to carry). After taking rest on many places finally reached  the 7^th hill and had the darshan of Sri Velliangiri Andavar around 07.00 hrs.

 The final destination - the 7th hill a panoramic view

 The back side of the cave 

 The path with boulders 

  The path side shops

  Pambatti siddhar cave 

 The un-even steps

The Vazhukku parai steps

not the snake.. the twisted fallen tree on the foot path

The un-even steps

 A small shrine near the 6th hill 

Had our breakfast, at vattaparai on the return path of the 7^th Hill and  started our return trekking.  Group got separated and the youngsters trekked down faster. We two alone trekked  down slowly taking rest  and sleep on many places.  The sun above us didn’t showed any mercy on us. The temperature  of the black powdered soil, the slippery of the powder soil due to walking of the Shiva devotees, the  hot vazhukku parai steps, the uneven steps,  scattered boulders path, the sleepless night,   made the trekking more difficult.  The most importantly the knee pain, made me to trek down loading my body weight on the left leg alone. This leads to the pain on the thigh and cough muscles.  It was around 15.30 hours when we reached the Poondi base temple.

SOME OF THE IMPORTANT  POINTS TO THE NEW TREKKERS..

Even-though the Velliangiri hill  is comprises of 7 hills, actually they are not separated. The 7 hills are counted as, Up to “Vellai Pillayar” as 1^st Hill, the bamboo tree forest on both sides  as 2^nd Hill, Lemon grass on both sides  as 3^rd hill, 4,5 & 6 has small peaks and 7^th is the natural cave with Shiva Lingas.

 

About 25 steps from the base, there is a path on the right side leads  to a small cave temple.  On the way the interesting places are Pambatti Siddhar cave, Kaithatti sunai, 236 Vazhukku parai Rock cut steps in the second hill, Vibhuti Hill, Kungumam Hill,  “Aandi Sunai” at the end of 6^th Hill ( like a pond – may be a source of drinking water to the animals during non seasons),  “Bheeman Kali Urundai”, “Siruvani Dam View”, Vinayagar Temple and "Ottan Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi", who is believed to be responsible for building the steps on the 7^th Hill.

 The Samadhi of Ottan Siddhar, believed to be responsible for the construction of the steps

 The entrance to the cave

 The Main Cave -Shrine Swayambhu Shiva Lingas

The sun rise view will be awesome from the 7^th hill top where Lord Shiva’s cave exists. It will be auspicious to trek on “Chitra Pournami ”, night and watch the Sun rise  from top of the Hill. The Sun rays used to fall on the Natural lingas ( 3 Lingas).

 The sun rise

Devotees are allowed to trek from Maha Shivaratri  ( Which usually falls during Feb last to March first week ) to May 31^st. It is not advisable to trek form June 1^st since, in Coimbatore district the rainy season will be started. Allowed to trek day and night during the season. After the season, Devotees are allowed to trek during day time only on “No moon day” ie -Amavasai. From 2018 on wards ladies of all  age group are allowed to trek. 

Special Transport facility is being arranged by the Transport Corporation during “Chitra Pournami” days from Coimbatore City to Poondi, the base Temple.

We will be facing both hot and Chill climates during the trekking. From the 4^th hill on wards the temperature will be low and on the 7^th hill it will be very low, hence it is advised to carry, blanket, sweater or shawl.

Do’s AND Don’ts

Do’s.

• Please do carry at least 2 liters of drinking water.
• Carry the required medicines.
• Carry Torch lights with spare batteries, in case if the trekking is done on night time.
• Carry food for one time at-least, fruits, Chocolates. Biscuits, Glucose, ( there are about 20 shops on the trekking route, where you can get some herbal tea, snacks, Cucumber, Dharpoosini, raw Mango etc,. )
• Carry a stick ( Temple authorities sells bamboo stick @ a cost of Rs 30 per stick ).
• 90%of the devotees used to trek on bare foot considering Velliangiri as  a holy hill. But some people used to trek with slipper, Chappal/ sandal and shoes.

Don’ts

• Heart patients are advised to keep off from trekking.
• Please avoid to carry plastic bottles ( Water bottles labels to be removed ), plastic bags, match boxes, polythene bags etc,.
• Please do not feed monkeys ( It will make them as beggar and they will forget to search their food on their own)
• Less luggage more comfort. There is a clock room where you can deposit the luggage ( Charge is Rs 20 per bag.)
• Cameras are not allowed to take beyond the base temple.

THE DETAILS OF MY PREVIOUS VISITS ARE….

2011....2012....2013....2015....2016....2017....2018

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---