Rock Arts of Krishnagiri in Rock Shelters, Gevi Gundu, Karadi Kudda - Kudaikal and Bellarapalli near Krishnagiri Dam, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu.

24^th & 25^th August 2019.

The two days Visit was mainly focused on Rock arts in the natural caves / shelters around Kaveripattinam and Krishnagiri. During our visit we had visited 9 natural shelters / hills, where red and white ocher are found. Unlike the Kilvalai, Alambadi, Sttavarai and Neghanur (Neganur ) Patti near Villupuram on the banks of river Then Pennai,  these shelters are natural caves formed by the rocks and part of the hills. The presence of white and red ochre rock arts indicates that these shelters are  used continuously and the red ochre is considered more than 10 thousand years old.  Some of the shelters are spacious and some are very small. These shelters are facing an open area so that the movements of animal, other groups can be watched. A very important point is the shelter will be close to water sources with easy access.

The artists records the animals that they had seen, ( like Horses, Tiger), birds,  reptiles like snakes, scorpions, celebrations  ( a rhythmic dancing ), hunting of animals, fight between the groups, the cultural activities, sun, Lamps ( Pandil lamps ), patterns, symbols, designs etc,. Since the caves / shelters are used continuously, the rock arts may belongs to different periods.

GEVI GUNDU ROCK ARTS

This shelter is about 30 feet from the ground level and all the three sides can be seen from the shelter. The protruding rock ( like a dinosaurs head with mouth ) forms the shelter. The rock arts  are drawn on the side of the rock.  The rock art consists of 8 angle star, Suryan, Chandran, Pandil lamp, a hunter hunting an animal, fertility symbol and Chariot. A man is standing at the centre of the chariot. This indicates that the pulling of chariot existed 5000 years before.

KARADI KUDDA – KUDAIKAL ROCK ARTS.

This shelter is very near to the Krishnagiri Dam. Since the shelter is in the form of umbrella, this shelter is called as Kudaikal. The approach is little difficult.  In the above Kudaikal shelter rock arts group consists of  Pandil lamps, Damru like fertility symbols, stars, different shapes of square & rectangular, chariot like shapes are drawn. No human figures and animals are seen in this rock art group.

Here too the sad part is the scribbling of names on the rock arts, miscreants.

BELLARAPALLI – 1, NEAR KRISHNAGIRI DAM.

On the west side of the dam we had seen rock arts on two small hills. In the 1^st hill the shelter is very small and we have to crawl inside. It can accommodate two to three people only. The white ochre rock art consists of a scorpion with a man and 3 fertility symbols. The  Scorpion is very big compared to man.

BELLARAPALLI – 2, NEAR KRISHNAGIRI DAM.

This shelter is about 20 to 30 feet from the ground level. The space is little larger than the 1^st one.  The roof and side of  the shelter has the white ochre rock arts. The rock art group consists of  some fertility symbols, a man and a scorpion. The man’s face is facing on his right side.

Here too the sad part is the scribbling of names on the rock arts, miscreants. Some people had cooked in this place and smoke also deposited on the roof top.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---