A cavernous palimpsest

Sub: History

Sec: Art and Culture

Chandravalli Cave Complex:

Located in Chitradurga district, Karnataka.
Known as Ankali Math, named after a saint from Ankalagi in Belagavi district.
Approximately three km from Chitradurga fort.
Accessible through a narrow entrance, requiring a powerful torch for visibility.
The region is a valley formed by three hills, Chitradurga, Kirabanakallu and Jolagudda.

Historical Significance:

Believed to be a meditation site and Gurukul by the saint and his followers.
Excavations have revealed artefacts such as coins, painted bowls, and earthen pots from the Hoysala, Satavahana, and Vijayanagara dynasties.
Contains a rock inscription of Mayurasharma, the founder of the Kadamba dynasty, dating back to AD 450.
Evidence of connections with Rome and China through coins found at the site.
Walls adorned with paintings made from organic paint.

Features:

The cave complex includes several chambers: a puja place with a shiva linga, a drawing room, a bedroom, and a water outlet connected to an internal tank.
Some chambers are extremely dark, necessitating the presence of a guide to avoid getting lost.

Current State:

The cave complex is maintained by Murugharajendra Math.
The area is kept clean and free of illegal activities largely due to the personal initiative of local guides.
Maintenance has suffered due to the arrest of the senior head of the math.
Guides depend on income from weekend tourists.

Source: TH