RAYAKOTTAI (Cave temple at)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 14/05/2016

A relatively small »cave temple« (man-made rock-cut chamber used for religious purposes) is »excavated in the southern precipitous face of the Ryacotta [note 1] rock, at a great height from its base, and of very difficult access« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 482). SITUATION: At a travelling distance of 27 km along the road west from Krishnagiri (12°32'N: 78°14'E), the populated place »Ryacotta« (HAMILTON, W 1828) is positioned as Rayakottai and Raya Cotay at N12°31': E078°02' (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909) and as Rayakotta, Rayakottai, and Riacotta at N12°31': E078°03' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003).