Chandravalli, Archaeological site in Chitradurga, India.
Chandravalli is an archaeological site of national importance in Chitradurga, India, set among three hills and containing the remains of old settlements, caves, and a temple. Excavations have uncovered brick walls, stone drains, gravel floors, and hearths across the area.
The site shows traces of settlement going back roughly 3000 years, and finds such as Roman silver coins point to early trade links with distant regions. Later, the Satavahana, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara dynasties each left their mark here.
The name Chandravalli means "moon-shaped," linked to King Chandrahasa of Kuntala who once ruled here. The cave temple, also called Ankali Mutt, is a semilunar shrine between two monolithic rocks where saints from Ankalagi in Belgaum came to meditate. A rock inscription in the Bhairaweshwara temple records Mayurasharma, founder of the Kadamba dynasty, and a lake nearby draws birdwatchers.
Chandravalli lies about 3 km west of Chitradurga, at the foot of the hills, and the excavated area measures roughly 730 m by 730 m. The cave temple sits between two monolithic rocks beside a lake, with scrub forest around the water where birds can be watched. The ground between the boulders and around the excavations is uneven, so sturdy footwear helps.
The site's name is explained by a legend: it was once ruled by King Chandrahasa of Kuntala, and Chandravalli means moon-shaped. Excavations also brought to light a Roman bulla and a cist holding a skeleton, finds that show how far the settlement's connections reached.
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