Eparchaean Unconformity, Geological formation in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
The Eparchaean Unconformity is a geological formation in Tirupati district within the Eastern Ghats mountain range. The exposed rock walls along the route between Tirupati and Tirumala reveal layers from different geological time periods stacked visibly in the cliff faces.
These rock layers formed when continents shifted and older granite came to rest against much younger rock sequences above it. The Geological Survey of India officially protected this site in 2001 as a National Heritage Monument to help scientists and visitors understand Earth's deep past.
The formation lies near the pilgrimage route to Tirupati Temple, connecting geological heritage with religious significance in the Eastern Ghats region.
The rock formations are most visible from the main road between Tirupati and Tirumala where cliff faces are fully exposed. Comfortable walking shoes help when exploring the roadside viewpoints, and the site is accessible year-round with better conditions during cooler months.
The site shows a massive time gap of around 500 million years represented by a single boundary between the granite bedrock and the overlying rock layer. This boundary is one of the oldest visible unconformities in the world, making it a remarkable record of how Earth's crust was shaped over vast stretches of time.
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