Inside Lie Wonders

December 2017
Inside Lie Wonders

80 feet below the sea level we were. The surprisingly cold winds moved swift and silently though there was not even a sliver of natural light in the caves. The faint light shone on the walls. My, what a beauty it used to be.

Chandravalli, a cave temple near Chitradurga, is a prehistoric site which we had visited. It lies amidst Chitradurga, Cholagudda, and Kirubana­kallu, three hills. It is below sea level and was used by many enlightened sadhus as a temple.

Beside it lies a river bounded by a locked gate to prevent visitors from throwing any garbage or spoiling the picturesque lake but alas, much of humankind never pays any heed to save nature. Many climbed over the gates to play in the water and others threw it as far as they could, into the water.

I sighed. Whatever could I do to stop them?

The bright sunlight shone upon us while we walked towards the entrance of the cave. Placing our bags on a rock, we carried our torches to venture into the caves. We were chaperoned by a guide who was also accompanied by his torch. For we did not have enough time, we decided to visit only the main cave and not the Shiva temple.

The entrance is perceived to be the one of an ordinary cave but inside the cave, the heart of the temple, lie many secrets and treasures.

Shafts of sunlight warmed the entrance but proceeded no more; it was as though the darkness refused the sunlight. Cool breezes travelled along the stuffy area. We first went through the main Dwara (door) on which Nandi, Lord Shiva’s vehicle, is carved which symbolises that Nandi lies there, guarding the door against attackers. Next lies the sitting room where permission was to be sought to meet the King or Sadhu in the main hall. Only then were they allowed to enter the Simha Dwara (lion’s door) which leads to the main room for the Gurukula room. To enter the room, they had to descend a few stairs.

The darkness became more intense; it engulfed most of the light. With the help of my parents, I went across for I had no torch with me. There were many pathways before us which were used to confuse any invaders.  If their mind wandered for even a second, the invaders would have lost their way with almost no way of seeing daylight again.

Thus the advisable guide was helpful for he took us to the next chamber. Further, into the caves, the headspace decreased and we (especially my dad) had to crouch down.

We first went to the royal bathroom. The concept was quite amazing for there was a shower closet in the corner and next to this is a tank. Rainwater was harvested which was used for this (it has now been blocked by the ASI).

Rainwater filled the tub through the square hole

Many carvings were on the wall and were vibrantly painted by naturally extracted colours. They were on walls that were plastered with cement-like materials which used to shine like white marble.

Next to this lies a wide rock bed on which the King or Sadhu slept. Sadly, many parts were destroyed by thieves and visitors. Many even carved their names on the beds and walls. I sighed once again. Whatever could I do to stop them?

Broken walls

Past a few more dark alleys is the chamber hall. One will have to guess to find out that there was a transcendent idol of God. Thieves have managed to enter this far into the cave and have removed all the precious stones embedded in the beauty; all that is left are some broken pieces of the stone idol and some intricate paintings beside it.

Soon, we reached the exterior of the caves. The sunlight almost burnt my eyes till they adjusted to it.

Though it was a pleasant experience, I urge all to preserve the beauty of nature and history, instead of selfishly satisfying your needs. Correctly disposing a finished bottle instead of throwing it in the open can make a difference. Destroying a monument and needlessly carving your name onto enchanting monuments can too make a difference. Though the monument is ‘protected’ by the Archaeological Survey of India, nothing is cleaned and nothing is prevented.

Comment on your experience in any historic monument!