CHENNARAYADURGA (Caves on the)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

There are several unspecified cave temples of unidentified nature and character in the hills of Chennarayadurga (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: The Kannada -chenna- means small or young while -raya- (the Sanskrit raja) is a king and -durga- (literally: inaccessible) is a (fortified) hill. SITUATION: At a distance of 95 km along the National Highway NH4 north-west of Bangalore (N12°59': E77°35') and about 35 km south-east of Tumkur (N13°20'32”: E77°06'06”). CAVE DESCRIPTION: LONELY PLANET, South India (2001: 332) gives no clue wether these cave temples are modified natural temple caves or man-made rock-cut chambers used for religious purposes: The hills of Chennarayadurga, the highest of which is 1139 m, boast of ruins of 17th-century forts, several cave temples, and stunning views.There are several unspecified cave temples of unidentified nature and character in the hills of Chennarayadurga (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: The Kannada -chenna- means small or young while -raya- (the Sanskrit raja) is a king and -durga- (literally: inaccessible) is a (fortified) hill. SITUATION: At a distance of 95 km along the National Highway NH4 north-west of Bangalore (N12°59': E77°35') and about 35 km south-east of Tumkur (N13°20'32”: E77°06'06”). CAVE DESCRIPTION: LONELY PLANET, South India (2001: 332) gives no clue wether these cave temples are modified natural temple caves or man-made rock-cut chambers used for religious purposes: The hills of Chennarayadurga, the highest of which is 1139 m, boast of ruins of 17th-century forts, several cave temples, and stunning views.