MARUGALTALAI (Cave at)
8.666700,77.866700
Description
An apparently natural cave, which was modified with beds chiselled out of the rock (note 1), reported KONOV (after V. Venkayya, edited 1907 by John H. Marshall) from a place called Marugaltalai (not tracked down) which lies at a distance of 16 km (KONOV 1907) east-south-east (A.D. Edward Raj 2002.07.02 Mss) of Tirunelvely (note 2). Buses ply from Tirunelvely to Marugaltalai (A.D. Edward Raj 2002.07.02 Mss).
NOTE 1: Vijaya Sherry Chand (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Gujarat), online : iimahd.ernet.in/~vijaya/sit.htm (accessed 2008.06.01) tells us that »Jain monks … used kal-stones for dindu-pillows or bed« where the Tamil "kal" means »stone« and "dindu" is a »bed«.Tamil "panchapandavarpadukkai" (Pancha Pandavar Pandukkai) or »beds of the Five Pandava brothers« are reported from many places, including –>Anaimalai, –>Kongar Puliyangulam / Puliyankulam Palli, –>, –>Kalugumalai, and –>Tiger Cave (Kovilpatti). NOTE 2: Tirunelveli (also: Tinneveli, Tinnevelly), N08°44': E077°42' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003); or Tirunelvely (also: Palamcottah) N08°44': E077°45' (Everest 1830, IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.5 | TIRUNELVELI WELL - TUNNEL | ||
| 55.6 | TIGER CAVE, Kovilpatti | ||
| 56.2 | KALUGUMALAI (Caves on the) | ||
| 56.2 | SUBRAHMANYA, Kalugumalai (Cave of) | ||
| 117.7 | PERAYUR 1 (Cave at) | ||
| 121.1 | T-KALLUPATTI ROCK SHELTER | ||
| 121.3 | PERAYUR 2 (Cave at) | ||
| 122.1 | PERAYUR 3 (Cave at) | ||
| 123.3 | PERAYUR 4 (Cave at) |