''Sidlaphadi'' near

Badami Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from CE 540 to 757. It is famous for its rock cut monumen ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

, is a natural rock bridge and prehistoric

rock shelter A rock shelter (also rockhouse, crepuscular cave, bluff shelter, or abri) is a shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliff. In contrast to solutional caves (karst), which are often many miles long, rock shelters are almost alway ...

. It is located at about four km. in the middle of a shrub jungle near the historic town of Badami. A bridle and kutcha path through sandstone hills from Badami leads to Sidlaphadi and there is no metal road to the spot. ''Sidlaphadi'' literally means in Kannada the ''Rock of lightning'', derived from gaping holes in the natural rock arch, which was formed when a lightning struck. The natural rock bridge structure looks like a ''wide arch'' between two sandstone boulders (served as a roof). The rock structure has large, gaping holes in the arch and allows sunlight to enter inside which provides the required light for interiors. It was also a shelter for hunter-gatherer prehistoric people. Sidlaphadi0196

There is a replica of Sidlaphadi in the Badami archaeological museum, it is dedicated to recreate Sidlaphadi and has posters to provide relevant information about the evolution of man. There are evidences to prove that the Sidlaphadi was a dwelling of prehistoric man.

Prehistoric rock art

This natural rock bridge structure was studied by archaeologist Shri A. Sundara, who identified prehistoric (now fading) paintings on the roof of the arch. The blunt weapons of stone were also discovered in the area.Dr. R. Mohana has discovered more prehistoric rock art pictures in and around Sidla Phadi.

Ancient markers pointing to Sidlaphadi

An artificially carved ancient petroglyph in one of the minor caves of the Badami cave clusters, acts as a miniature replica of Sidlaphadi. The petroglyph consists of an oval depression in the bed rock joined by a cylindrical bridge with a natural fissure on its left. Additionally, the axis of the miniature bridge points accurately in the direction of the rock arch. It is quite possible that this replica was used as a directional marker to locate Sidlaphadi.

Other megalithic sites in Karnataka

Hirebenkal Hirebenakal or Hirébeṇakal or Hirébeṇakallu (ಹಿರೇಬೆಣಕಲ್ಲು in Kannada) is a megalithic site in the state of Karnataka, India. It is among the few megalithic sites in India that can be dated to the 800 BCE to 200 B ...

Sanganakallu Sanganakallu () is an ancient archaeological site from the Neolithic period (circa 3000 BC). It is approximately 8 km from Bellary in eastern Karnataka. It is a group of hills south of a horseshoe shaped valley, with Kupgal to the north. I ...

Kupgal petroglyphs The Kupgal petroglyphs are works of rock art found at Kupgal in Bellary district of Karnataka, India. Thousands of petroglyphs have been found at Kupgal, which date to the neolithic or even the old stone age. The site, which includes examples ...

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Anegundi Anegundi previously called Kishkindha is a village in the Gangavathi taluk, Koppal district in the Indian state of Karnataka, It is older than Hampi, situated on the northern bank of the Tungabhadra River. Huchappayana matha temple (with bla ...

Khyad Khyad village is in Badami taluk in Bagalkot District in North Karnataka, popular for prehistoric structures, found many fossils of prehistoric ''Stone Age''. In 1873 Robert Bruise (researcher) discovered this area. From Deccan College Pune m ...

Brahmagiri archaeological site Brahmagiri is an archaeological site located in the Chitradurga district of the state of Karnataka, India. Legend has it that this is the site where sage Gautama Maharishi (also spelt Gauthama Maharshi) and his wife Ahalya lived. He was one amon ...

Morera Thatte Morera Thatte is an archaeological site consisting of a number of stone structures on Chikkabenkal hill near Gangavathi in Koppal district, India, dating back to the Stone Age. These houses are said to have been constructed 3,000 years ago. Th ...

Prehistoric rock art In archaeology, rock art is human-made markings placed on natural surfaces, typically vertical stone surfaces. A high proportion of surviving historic and prehistoric rock art is found in caves or partly enclosed rock shelters; this type also m ...

South Asian Stone Age The South Asian Stone Age covers the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods in South Asia. Evidence for the most ancient ''Homo sapiens'' in South Asia has been found in the cave sites of Cudappah of India, Batadombalena and Belilena in ...

References

{{Prehistoric technology Archaeological sites in Karnataka Neolithic Burial monuments and structures Megalithic monuments in India Archaeology of death Rock art in India Prehistoric art Rock shelters Prehistoric art in India

Prehistoric rock art

Ancient markers pointing to Sidlaphadi

Other megalithic sites in Karnataka

See also

References