The
visit to these balancing rocks was a part of the "Gajaprishta Vimana Temple of
Thondai Nadu" visit on 04th June 2023. Had been to this place, Appukal, after visiting the Sri Kailasanathar Shiva temple at Ananthapuram. This naturally
formed balancing rock is at Appukal Village in the Vellore region. The Village Appukal
has both Archaeological and Geological values. Thanks to Mr Sugumar Arul for
taking me to this Historical place and the incredible Vellore Facebook friends.
Archaeological
significance... This place, Appukal, was known for
human settlement since the Neolithic period. In 1977-79, the Archaeological Department
Team, under the leadership of Prof K V Ramanan, discovered the remains of red
and black clay pots and ash mounts belonging to the Neolithic age. Megalithic period burial sites like Dolmens are
also discovered, but most of them are destroyed due to indiscriminate
quarrying.
In
1989, during blasting for stone quarrying, Copper swords were found hidden
between the boulders. The swords are estimated to be 2100 years old. The
same was identified by Mr Asraf Ali, a Historian from Vellore, along with Vellore
Museum Curator Mr Gandhi.
The brass swords PC: Incredible Vellore
In
recent years, the Villagers protested the quarrying, and the same was stopped. A
Small Shiva temple was constructed on the top of the hill, and a power connection
from TNEB was also obtained. Efforts are on to lay a path around the hill to
carry out the Girivalam on Pournami / full moon Days.
The Shiva temple was built in recent years
Geological
Significance... The Hill has two balancing
rocks and boulders stacked one on the other.
In the first balancing rock spot, the sharp edge protrudes
out distinctively, with its center sitting on the bottom rock. These rocks are called the balancing rocks or
precariously hanging rock boulders, which are naturally occurring geological
formations wherein a large rock rests on other rocks, bedrock, with some
formations that appear like hanging from a narrow base rock are in fact firmly
attached to the base rock by a pedestal or stem. This rock formation appears like a bird and a baby
alligator from specific angles. This balancing rock is compared to
that one in Zimbabwe.
A Close view of the top rock's contact with the bottom rock
Stalked rocks are on the right
Another view of the balancing rock
Another view of the balancing rock
stalked rocks one on another
HOW TO REACH
The
Place balancing rock is about 750 meters from the Village.
This
place, Appukal, is about 6 km from Tarveli, 13 km from Narasingapuram, 29 km from
Vellore, and 164 km from Chennai.
The nearest railway station is Vellore.
LOCATION OF THE
BALANCING ROCK: CLICK HERE
The Shiva temple was built in recent years
Mr. Sugumar Arul, the author of this article
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Above the balancing Rocks my village side
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information Sir...
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