Telangana is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ramappa Temple, and has recently added another significant location to its tentative list: the Megalithic Menhirs Site, believed to date back over 3,500 years. On February 11, the central government submitted a dossier to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention about the menhirs.
According to the dossier, the Mudumal menhirs represent one of India’s most expansive and well-preserved megalithic astronomical observatories, with a remarkable arrangement of boulder alignments, formations, and stone circles. It further highlights a central area with two distinct types of menhirs that add to the site’s uniqueness.
Located in Mudumal village, Narayanpet, the menhir site sits amidst a serene and undisturbed landscape, surrounded by agricultural fields. These ancient stones stand tall as silent sentinels from a long-forgotten era. Positioned near the Krishna River, about 4 kilometers southwest of Mudumal village, the site spans 89 acres and features stone structures arranged in a linear pattern, ranging from 10 to 15 feet in height.
UNESCO notes that the site offers expansive views of the surrounding landscape, providing clues as to how the ancient builders might have aligned the menhirs with celestial bodies. The stones were strategically placed to mark solstices, equinoxes, and star patterns, transforming the Mudumal Megalithic Menhir site into an ancient observatory. The proximity to the river and its integration into agricultural lands enhance the site’s historical significance, highlighting its connection to both the earth and the cosmos.
Local Lore
The towering menhirs form part of a larger megalithic landscape that includes ancient burial sites, stone circles, and inscribed rocks. Over time, local communities have woven these stones into their cultural heritage, infusing them with meaning in their beliefs and practices.
The menhirs are revered as “Niluralla Thimmappa,” or Thimmappa of the Standing Stones, and are considered sacred by the locals. One menhir, in particular, is honored as Goddess Yellamma, emphasizing the deep spiritual connection people have with these monumental stones. This bond between nature, history, and spirituality underscores the lasting cultural significance of the site.
Astronomical Significance
A megalithic menhir is a large, upright stone, often tapering at the top, that was erected in ancient times. It may have been part of a larger megalithic site, functioning as a marker, ritual spot, or even an astronomical instrument.
The UNESCO tentative list details the site’s division into distinct sections. In one area, the menhirs align with the rising and setting sun during the summer and winter solstices, suggesting the site’s use as an ancient observatory. Around 400 meters west, a hillock features stone circles that indicate megalithic burials. A cuboid rock with cup marks at the summit represents the constellation Ursa Major, demonstrating the builders’ advanced astronomical knowledge. This constellation, which is tied to the North Star, aligns with the sunrise of the winter solstice, highlighting the site’s precise astronomical alignment.
Another set of cup marks, located 350 meters southwest of the menhirs, depicts a broader night sky, including Ursa Major, Leo, and the planet Jupiter—marking one of the earliest planetary depictions in South Asia.
