A DETAILED NOTE ON

KUDOPI ROCK ART GALLERY

PETROGLYPHS ON LATERITE SURFACE IN
COASTAL DISTRICT SINDHUDURG
IN MAHARASHTRA

BY
SATISH LALIT
satishlalit@gmail.com

KUDOPI ROCK ART GALLERY

Petroglyphs in Sindhudurg by Satish Lalit

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PETROGLYPHS ON LATERITE SURFACE

IN COASTAL DISTRICT SINDHUDURG
IN MAHARASHTRA
Satish Lalit
Abstract: The southernmost and coastal Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra is
a narrow, hilly strip of land between the Sahyadris (Western Ghats) and the Arabian
Sea. Famous for its natural beauty, this district is now on the map of Ancient Rock Art
also. Recently, Petroglyphs on Laterite surface in large numbers are found at Hiwale
and Kudopi villages in Malwan Tehsil. This treasure was for the first time brought to
light by the author. The Petroglyphs include human figurines, fish, animals, spiral
circle, ring and above all a 15 feet image of Mother Goddess.

Here is good news for rock art enthusiasts in India. The southernmost coastal
district of Sindhudurg in Maharashtra is now on the map of rock art. A petroglyphs
site is found in this district in Kudopi village in Malvan tehsil. The site consists of
nearly 30 petroglyphs carved on laterite surface which includes human figurines, fish,
animals, spiral circle, ring and above all a 15 feet image resembles to Mother
Goddess.
Location:Sindhudurg district is situated between Latitudes 15.37 and
16.40 North, and longitudes 73.19 and 74.18 East. It is boarded by the Arabian Sea on
the West and Sahyadri hill ranges to the East with a total area of
5,207sq.km.Sindhudurg is in the Konkan area of Maharashtra having picturesque
stretch of land on the west cost of India, endowed with the beautiful seashore,
picturesque Mountains and scenic natural beauty and known for tropical fruit like the
world famous Alphonso mangoes, cashews etc.
The Rock Art site is at Kudopi village which lies between west coast and
SahyadriMountains. The coast of Arabian Sea is approx. 12 KMs. The location is at
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161550.00 N and 733044.00 E at an altitude of 280 ft. from MSL (Mean Sea
Level). It can be approached by Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH 17), Konkan
Railway and the nearest airport is Bambolim, Goa. Nearest city is Kanakawali (30
KMs) on NH 17. After reaching Kanakawali you have to turn westwards on Achara
road, then take right turn atChindarvillage, from here Kudopi is 6 KMs. Kanakawali
is an important station on Konkan Railway.
Climate: The climate of this place is mainly humid. Min. temp. is 16.3 Celsius
and max. temp. is 33.8 Celsius. Sindhudurg witnesses rain for full four months June,
July, August and Septemberand averagerainfall is 3,287mm.Most of the district area
covered by dense rain forest, Amboli hill station area is most suitable habitat for wild
animals like leopard, wild cats, rabbits, wild hen and sometimes wild buffalo also
appears in winter season. Wild buffalos come down from Radhanagri forest
(Kolhapur District) for search of food and water. Recently Elephants are also making
entry into Sindhudurg District from Karnataka state through Khanapur jungle. This is
the first time, elephants finding habitation in Maharashtra state.
Rock Art on West Coast of India:

Ponsaimal, Goa

Along with West Coast of India there are many known and unknown Rock Art
Sites. The only famous site is in South Goa at Usgalimal, also called Panasaimol,near
Sanguem.This site of a prehistoric riverside nomadic fishing camp of the people of
Kushavati culture at Panasaimol, Sanguem was discovered and reported in 1993.

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Kushavati is the name of the river, which flows near the site. More than 125 forms
were found scattered in the area.

The Virdi Boulder.

The Second site is Virdi, on Maharashtra-Goa border. At Virdi we can see some
animals carved on a wall like huge basalt stone. Here we can see a pig, a giraffe like
animal locally called Zebu, and a couple of humped bulls. Unfortunately this huge
stone is destroyed five years ago while constructing a dam. Luckily, I have
photographed it earlier. The third site is at Hiwale in Sindhudurg. Here we can see
human figures, birds, fish and circles. The count is around ten. Another site is at
Niwali in Ratnagiri district. Here we can see a complicated map. There are also some
sites like Khudi (Malvan), Malapwadi, Mervi (Nivali), Upale,Khanawali (Rajapur),
Palshet (Guhagar) on the west coast. We can see a lineage between all these sites.
Kudopis Hill of the Dolls:
The Kudopisite in Sindhudurg district, which I had brought into light for the
first time,where we can see more than 30 petroglyphs on a huge laterite
plateau.Kudopi is a small village in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district. The site is
situated on top of a hill locally known as Bawlyanche temb(in Marathi) means the
hill of dolls. A river flows below the hill and there is small settlement of locals. The
site is secluded and the petroglyphs are carved on laterite surface. The coast is about
25 km away to the west. These petroglyphs can be dated back to the pre-historic
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Neolithic period. The site contains more than 30 petroglyphs spread over the area of
approx. half acre and some of them being as large as 20X15 feet in dimensions. The
drawings consist of human figurines, circles and other symbolic abstract designs.

Human figures at Kudopi, Sindhudurg

Human Figurines: On Kudopi plateau there are two human figurines. The first one is
3X4 feet in size and has a frame around it. The other human figure is of the size of
5X3 feet.
Circles: There are five types of circles found here. One is spiral and has a

circles at Kudopi

diameter of 40 inches. Other one is 30 inches diameter and it is abraded, except at

center. Third circle is like a ring and has diameter of 40 inches. The fourth circle
found here is made by digging 4 inches deep. The diameter is 8 inches. The last one is
oblong and inside it has two round mounds.
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Fish: There is a pair of fish artistically carved; even the artist has shown the
water body also. The fish are swimming in a row, one behind the other. Their fins are
beautifully carved.

The length of the fish is 10 inches. Interestingly, they are moving towards the west,
which is incidentally seaside. There is one more image of fish, a big one, around 3 feet
in length. The species shown here is different than the earlier pair.
Mother Goddess (?): This is the most amazing and interesting image of
Mother Goddess (?). Here we can see, not so proportionate, image of Mother Goddess
holding her baby in both hands

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Mother Godess (?)

The V carved on her body indicates her femininity. The primitive communities were
predominantly female dominated and the tribes were mostly headed by women. In that
era women were accorded a high status, were revered and worshipped by human
tribes. The concept of Mother Goddess is common worldwide.
Geometrical Images: At Kudopi there are some abstract and geometrical
images, which are very difficult to decipher. One such huge geometrical image is of a
freehand style.This image is artistically carved. It looks like this image is of some
religious importance or may be used for practicing shamanism.

Geometrical carvings in freehand style

It looks like that these pre-historic people were practicing shamanism in whatever
form and they made these abstract images as part of their rituals. It may be noted that
Shamanism is still practiced in some part of Sindhudurg district and People here
believe in ghosts and spirits.
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Shamanism: Shamanism dates back to some 10,000 years and is the first
spiritual practice known to the world. It was used as a problem-solving technique if it
is understood and translated into modern times.The word "shaman" originates from
the Tungusic language of Siberia. The word "shaman" refers to a person who makes
journeys to non-ordinary reality in an altered state of consciousness. Although the
term is from Siberia, the practice of shamanism existed on all inhabited continents.
Shamanism was, and is still practiced, by people around the globe. Shamanism
existed before religions and as the well-known anthropologist, Dr. Michael Harner,
mentioned, the main elements of this ancient technique have very similar structures
around the globe. *(Ref: 2)
Recently, some more sites are explored by amateurs at Khudi, Girye in
Sindhudurg and at Upale, Khanawali, Mervi, Malapwadi (Niwali) in Ratnagiri district.

Khudi, Sindhudurg

Upale,Ratnagiri

Conclusion:To conclude, the lineage between known rock art sites along the
west coast suggests that the pre-historic tribes who dwelled in this coastal area must
have travelled across the coastal corridor. And while moving or migrating they have
left behind their footprints in the form of rock art. To preserve it is everybody's duty.
000000000000
References:
*(Ref.: 1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism
*(Ref: 2)
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http://www.shamanism.org/articles/article01.html

(words: 1445)

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