CHANDRAVALLI
Chandravalli, now
a picturesque tourist destination at a distance of approximately four kilometers
from Chitradurga town in central Karnataka, is one of the famous excavation sites
of
Chandravalli was
earlier known as Chandanavati also. Mythology has it that this place was once ruled
by Chandrhasa a Kuntala king. The name Chandravalli is attributed to this reason
by some scholars. Another etymology contends that the place was moon shaped.
The excavation work
in Chandravalli was started around 1909 by veterans such as R.Narasimhachar, B.L.Rice
and R. Shamashastry . It acquired a wider base after
the significant contribution of M.H.Krishna in 1929-30 and Mortimer Wheeler who
was the director general of the archaeological survey of India rounded off the work
in 1947.
The site of excavation
measures approximately 700m x 750m and it is essentially a housing complex containing
brick walls, drains that are covered, floors paved with red gravel and fire places.
It was also a mortuary at a different time frame. The fruits of these excavations
are derived from three different layers representing different periods and royal
dynasties. These findings and some inscriptions found in the surrounding areas revealed
that Chandravalli was inhabited right from the megalithic age and neolithic age
and proceeded to harbour kings belonging to Kadamba, Shatahavahana and Hoysala dynasties
in that order. Some of these relics have helped in taking the ancestry of Chandravalli
to at least two thousand years.
Coins are among the
more important findings at Chandravalli. Lead coins minted by the Kings of the Chutu
dynasty and the Shathavahana kings who ruled during the third century A.D. are noteworthy. A ‘Maharathi’ coin measuring 3/4ths of
an inch thick demands attention. Coins inscribed with names such as Mudananda and
Chutukulananda
also belong to the Chutu dynasty. Coins made of silver, gold and copper used by
neolithic people metal is found plentifully. Some coins found here have the Buddhist
symbols of bodhi tree, stupa and Chaitya temples etched on them indicating the fact
that Chandravalli could have been under the Buddhist reign during those times. The
Roman and Chinese coins point a finger at our oceanic relations. (Augustus Caeser
and Emperor Wu Ti of Han dynasty respectively) Coins minted by Veera Ballala a Hoysala
king were found at the very first layer.
Coins circulated by Krishnadevaraja Odeyar-3 and Krishnsdeva Raya of Vijayanagar
have also made an appearance here. Mortimer Wheeler found some fifty five coins
at this site.
Many articles of
daily use such as an axe, mortar and a kiln and decorative material both of the
earthen and metallic variety were found at Chandravalli. Many statuettes of Ganesha,
elephant, cow, cock and naked women bear testimony to the ancient origin of this
place.
These items included
megalithic pottery, painted vessels and bowls. They are painted in russeet colour.
The drawings make use of various geometrical patterns and vessels themselves come
in various shapes.
The finding of a
cist containing a skeleton and pots containing bones and teeth of animals augment
the theory that this place could have been a mortuary at some point of time.
A rock found near
by contains an inscription erected by Mayurasharma of the Kadamba dynasty testifying
that a lake was built by him after a sting of victories. This inscription
in Brahmi script was erected in
350 A.D.
The Ankle caves near
Chandravalli date back to pre Christian era.
They contain passages, hideouts and prison cells. There are stone carvings and paintings
showing Buddhist as well as Hindu influences. There is a provision to harvest rain
water and corridors that ensure proper lighting.
Chandravalli is undoubtedly
monumental, providing irrefutable evidence about the history of Karnataka.
References: 1. Brahmagiri and Chandravalli: Wheeler, Mortimer
1947, And Ancient
2. Aiyangar, S. Krishnaswami
[1995] (1995), Some Contributions of
3.
Ghosh,
Amalananda [1990] (1990).
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology. BRILL.
ISBN 9004092625.
4.
Peter
Neal Peregrine, Melvin Ember, Human Relations Area Files Inc. [2001] (2001).
Encyclopedia
of Prehistory.
Springer.
ISBN 0306462621.