The sudden upsurge in the common man's interest in megaliths across the subcontinent is a healthy sign. Even a few years ago megaliths were indeed an unknown entity locked inside prosaic anthropological and archaeological journals and research books rendering no good both to the these ancient monuments and to the common man's interest in the real prehistory of India. Even foreign tourists who till now regarded India to be a country of temples completely unaware of the vast treasure of megaliths the country houses is at awe learning of the fact that India is indeed a megalithic country have begun visiting these sites.
HIRE BENEKAL. Credit: Wikipedia
Reports are pouring in that the younger generation flock to see the Hire Benekal megalithic site in Karnataka which is about to be declared as the first World Heritage Site among megaliths of India. Brahmagiri with its cist burials is also the destination of the common man apart from archaeological and anthropological students.
The Umbrella/Mushroom stones of Kerala are one of the most spectacular dolmens of the world and does instill surprise in the beholder's eyes observing these unusual megaliths. According to a Times of India report dated 3rd Jan 2017 tourists have begun flocking to the lesser heritage of Junapani stone circles of Vidharbha near Nagpur. As a result the Anthropological Survey of India have started thinking to promote the site as a heritage site.
ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF STONE CIRCLES IN JUNAPANI. NAGPUR.
MEGALITHIC BURIAL SITE. NARTIANG. SHILLONG.
In the North-East, megaliths were indeed a tourist destination since many years now. Jharkhand is another treasure trove of ancient and modern megaliths. The Town Administration inspired by the author's discovery of the megaliths around Hazaribagh have put up boards at the megalithic sites. Now they have decided of putting up boards of megaliths in the town itself.
ENCOURAGED BY THE AUTHOR'S WORK ON MEGALITHS THE TOWN ADMINISTRATION PUTS UP BOARD AT MEGALITHIC SITES. THIS ONE IS AT THE BIRBIR MEGALITHS
The large Chokahatu megalithic burial site in which the Munda tribes still continue to build megaliths over their dead for over 2500 years has the author attempt to have the site be declared a World Heritage Site. Today Chokahtu has become an international tourist destination and so has Punkri Burwadih in Hazaribagh.
THE MUNDARI BURIAL SITE. CHOKAHATU. JHARKHAND
THE SPECTACULAR EQUINOX SUNRISE AT PUNKRI BURWADIH MEGALITHS: THE ONLY MEGALITHIC SITE IN THE COUNTRY FOR SUCH A PHENOMENON.
A SECTION OF THE CROWD TO VIEW THE EQUINOX SUNRISE IN PUNKRI BURWADIH MEGALITHS
The equinox sunrise viewing in the Punkri Burwadih megaliths which the author had discovered some 20 odd years ago today draws visitors from many corners of the world and of the country.
The increase in curiosity on megaliths among the people have also prompted television companies like National Geographic, Doordarshan and Discovery to shoot documentaries on them. Researches by several Independent Scholars, websites like these too have aroused the interest for megaliths among the common people.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SHOOTS THE AUTHOR FOR A DOCUMENTARY FILM ON THE PUNKRI BURWADIH MEGALITHS.
INSPIRED BY THE AUTHOR'S WORK ON MEGALITHS THE TOWN ADMINISTRATION CHRISTENS ONE OF THE GATES OF THE TOWN STADIUM AS "MEGALITH".
This renewed interest in megaliths among the present generation of Indians will not only boosts tourism, research activities among anthropological, archaeological, history scholars and independent researchers but also will give a new fillip to write India's antiquity.
Megaliths therefore has the potential to rewrite India prehistory.
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