Samanar Hills, Rock formation and archaeological site in Madurai district, India
Samanar Hills is an archaeological site featuring rock formations that stretch for 3 kilometers between two villages. The hills contain several caves at elevations of 170 to 220 meters with stone carvings and ancient writings visible inside.
The site dates back more than 2000 years and contains Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and early script systems left by ancient peoples. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as an important historical location.
The caves display carved Jain sculptures from the 9th century showing religious figures like Mahavira and Bahubali. These carvings reveal the beliefs of the ancient communities who made this place important to their faith.
The site is about 12 kilometers from Madurai and can be reached by road year-round from the railway station or airport. The terrain is hilly, so visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow enough time to explore the caves properly.
Stone beds carved into the cave rocks show that Jain monks practiced sallekhana here, a ritual of deliberate fasting until death. These carved resting places reveal how deeply committed the monks were to their spiritual practice.
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