SILA THORANAM

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Stunningly counter-informing Internet webshites advertise a relatively small natural bridge as one of the many hundreds if not thousands of occurrences of allegedly rarest geographical arch, 25 feet in length [7.6 m wide?] and 10 feet in height … [which is] believed to have formed due to intensified weathering and erosion of stream action. The only one of its kind in whole Asia [note 1] this geological feature is known as 'Eparchean Unconformity' aged at 1500 million years. ETYMOLOGY: The Tamil -sila toranam- signifies a festooned stone arch as -sila- (also: sali, shali, shila, shaila, etc.) means stone and -toranam- is the word for a festooned arch (note 2). SITUATION: Somewhere in the vicinity of Tirumala (13°41'N: 79°21'E), north-west of Tirupati town (also: Tripati 13°39'N: 79°25'E) in Chittoor district. GEOMORPHOLOGY: The … sandstone cliffs by which the chain is crested have a columnar aspect … owing to nearly vertical fissures which intersect strata at right angles; nd which, in the thicker bed, constitute their most marked feature. A highly illustrative instance of the jointed structure is seen in the mural sandstone cliffs cresting the sacred hill of Tripati (NEWBOLD, T J 1845c: 499).nd which, in the thicker bed, constitute their most marked feature. A highly illustrative instance of the jointed structure is seen in the mural sandstone cliffs cresting the sacred hill of Tripati (NEWBOLD, T J 1845c: 499).