SITALPHADI (Cave at)
15.916700,75.683300
Description
An imposing (20 m long, 17 m broad and 4 m high), arch-like »rock shelter« (or cave) is known since the 1950ies to contain rock art (inscriptions and many paintings) of different periods (IAR 1955-6: 13, 1959-60: 73; SUNDARA, A 1984: 137). ETYMOLOGY: Unknown but »Sitalpati« is the name of »A reed of which fine mats are made in Bengal, Phrynium dichotomum« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 25: xxvi). The site has been referred to as Shidalfade Pappu, R S P in: Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] (1980-1981 / 1983: 27) Shidlaphadi SUNDARA, A (1984: 141) Sidlaphadi SUNDARA, A (1984: 137). SITUATION: At an unspecified distance of about 5 km (propably along a route) in an unspecified direction (either east or south) from Badami (note 1) and in an unidentified spatial relation to a place called Sitalphadi, Sidlaphadi, or Sitalpati. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1983: »The natural cave known as Shidalfade near Badami is already well known« (anonymous Pappu, R S P in: Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1980-1981: 27). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1984: »[The site] "Sidlaphadi" and imposing arch-like rock-shelter, about 5 kms. from Badami is found to contain many paintings of different periods, known at least from 1950s« (SUNDARA, A 1984: 137) or, perhaps: Sidlaphadi, an imposing arch-like rock-shelter about 5 km from Badami, is found to contain many paintings of different periods, known at least from 1950ies. »Snidlaphadi [sic!] is a great rock-shelter already known for its paintings, stone age tools and Neolithic remains. It is a grand expansive shelter looking like an arch open on both the sides. On the interior surface are numerous paintings -- Neolithic, early historic and late historic« (SUNDARA, A 1984: 141). CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: »Some paintings in Sidlaphadi are in dull whitish blue colour« (SUNDARA, A 1984: 138). »In some rock-shelters there are paintings of different periods, indicated either by overlap on [sic!: or?] addition. … some of the paintings in Sidlaphadi and Kurugodu have white paintings of the recent repiod along with the red ochre paintings of the protohistoric period« (SUNDARA, A 1984: 139). »On one side of the arch are paintings of brids -- apparently sparrows with snakes in between. It appears as if they represent snakes trying to swallow the birds. Below the depiction are small figures of men in a row. Also there is an ox underlying the sweeing curve of the medial sign of a one line writing which may be palaeographically assigned to c. 5th century A.D. On the opposite side, anong many unintelligible pictures, the figure of an elephaant is impressive. Opposite to this rock-shelter is a huge boulder-rock forming part of the hill range. On the open rock-surface are pictures of bulls in very naturalistic form …« (SUNDARA, A 1984: 141).
NOTE 1: Badami (PWD Inspection Bungalow near 15°55'00”N: 75°40'37”E Everest 1830) lies 4 km along the road approximately south of Badami Railway Station (N15°57'30”: E75°40'40” Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 48-M/09, 1975 edition).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | MAHASHIVA GRIHA (Cave of) | ||
| 0.3 | MAHAVISHNU GRIHA (Cave of) | ||
| 6.3 | NAGANATH GUDI, Badami | ||
| 21.7 | RAVALA PHADI CAVE | ||
| 77.5 | NAGESHWAR HILL (Cavern on the) | ||
| 88.7 | INGLESHWAR (Cave near) | ||
| 153.8 | BHUYAR, Indi | ||
| 182.6 | HIRE BENKAL SHELTERS | ||
| 182.6 | TOGALAGUDDA |