Krishna's Butterball, Granite boulder in Mamallapuram, India.
Description
Krishna's Butterball is a balancing rock in Mamallapuram within Kanchipuram district in India. Weighing around 250 tons, the granite sphere rests on a tiny contact patch along a sloped hillside and appears ready to roll away at any second.
History
The formation emerged in the seventh century during the reign of the Pallava dynasty. In 1908, Governor Arthur Lawley tried moving it with seven elephants and failed completely.
Culture
The name references Krishna's fondness for butter in Hindu stories. The Tamil term Vaan Irai Kal translates as Stone of Sky God and reflects its seemingly supernatural perch.
Practical
The formation sits within the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram, roughly 55 kilometers south of Chennai. Visitors can walk around it and attempt to push it themselves, though none ever succeed.
Did you know?
The rock inspired the design of Tanjavur Bommai dolls, which right themselves after being tipped. These traditional toys use a half-spherical weighted base modeled after how the boulder maintains its position.
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Geological formations develop over millions of years through natural processes including erosion, weathering, and tectonic activity. These rocks and stone structures take various forms – arches, monoliths, spheres, and pillars – shaped by wind, water, and time. They document Earth's geological...
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