Petroglyphs are rock carvings from thousands of years back. In India, there are several places where one can witness these carvings. In the Konkan region, Maharashtra, Goa, Meghalaya, and Andhra Pradesh one can see these beautifully carved sculptures. It is indeed a one-of-a-kind experience in a lifetime and everyone needs to see the magic and the mystique of sculptures present on mother Earth. Konkan belt is home to some of the most complex petroglyphs and you need to visit these places.
Places In The Konkan Belt Rich In Petroglyphs
Along the Konkan belt, there is Goa, Maharashtra, and Ratnagiri district where you will find locations that are extremely rich in petroglyphs and housing more than thousands of these historical sculptures. A great fact about this region is that they are now on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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It is believed that the Ratnagiri district houses over 1,500 of these rock arts. It is said these geoglyphs are almost 20,000 years old, spread in more than 70 places, and are rich in abundance. You can see these rock carvings in various shapes, figures, and sizes such as animals, birds, geometric figures, and humans. Also, there is a name for the carvings of the Ratnagiri district, Katal Shilpa’.
Petroglyphs of Ratnagiri region’s 7 sites are mentioned in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The sites are-
- Barsu
- Devache Gothane
- Devihsol
- Jambharun
- Kasheli
- Rundhe Tali
- Ukshi
Kudopi village and 9 sites in Pansaimol are also on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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These Rock Carvings Are Rich In This Region!
The Maharashtra government is preparing a dossier of these rock carvings to send to the Archaeological Survey of India. They will then share the dossier with UNESCO attempting the confirmation of the World Heritage Site. Dr. Tejas Garge is the director of the Maharashtra Archaeology Department and he shared that the department has already initiated looking for an agency for the dossier.
Nisarga Yatri Sanstha is working for the last couple of years to conserve and preserve these rock arts in the Konkan belt. Till now, they found about 1,700 petroglyphs in over 70 villages.