Excavations At Chitaral And Vallimalai
Significance: Archaeological Site
Main Findings: Rock Cut Sculptures Of Tirthankaras At Chitaral And Vallimalai
Chitaral is located about 45-km north west of
Kanyakumari and 5-km north east of
Martandam town. Chitaral has been declared as a protected site by
Archaeological Survey of India. There is a hillock at Chitaral, which has
a huge cave containing rock-cut sculptures of Tirthankaras and attendant
deities carved inside and outside that belong to 9th century AD. It was
converted into Bhagavathi temple in the 13th century AD. No modifications
have been made to the Jain images found here.
Vallimalai
Vallimalai is located near Vellore, 16-km
north of the Shivastalam Tiruvallam, on the
Chennai
Bangalore highway.
There is a cave on the hillock, which has images of Mahvira and Sidhayika
Yakshi, carved in the 9th - 10th centuries. It has been now converted into
a shrine of Subramanya. Besides, three groups of Jain images at different
places. First group has Parsvanatha, Adinatha, Sruta Devi and Matanga
Yaksha.
Second group contains Adinatha and Mahavira flanked by Matanga and
Siddhayika. Third group has a row of 6-seated images except for the third
image; others represent monks of the Mulasangha at Sravana-Belgola in
Karnataka . A
separate boulder has Ambika and a Thirthankara. They exhibit western Ganga
styles. Best examples of
Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu Jaina relations.
HOW TO GET THERE
To Kanyakumari
Rail:Kanyakumari being a major
pilgrim centre of Tamil Nadu is well connected by rail
with all the major cities and towns of Tamil Nadu.
Road:Tourist can access Chitaral from Kanyakumari
either by bus or taxis.
To Vallimalai
Rail:Vellore's main railway station is 5 kilometres north at
Katpadi, which is a junction.
Road:Tourists can access Vallimalai
from Vellore either by bus or train, which is
just 16-km away. Regular bus services are also available to
Vallimalai.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is available at the small budgeted hotels and choultries at Kanyakumari as well as at the hotels in Vellore.
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