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---