Groundbreaking Archaeological Discovery In Andhra Pradesh Forest: Lankamala Wildlife Sanctuary Was Once A Shaivite Pilgrimage Centre

Lankamala Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled within the Siddavatam forest range of Andhra Pradesh, has long been renowned for its rich biodiversity, but it has now emerged as a significant historical site following a groundbreaking archaeological discovery.

The New Indian Express reported that, a team of researchers, led by Siddavatam forest range officer K Kalavathi and Dr K Munirathnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy) at the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Mysore, has uncovered ancient inscriptions and prehistoric rock art, offering fresh insights into the region’s past.

The inscriptions and carvings, dating from the 4th to the 16th century CE, indicate that Lankamala was once a prominent Shaivite pilgrimage centre, attracting devotees from North India.

The discovery was made in December 2024 during a routine inspection by Kalavathi, who identified rock inscriptions and carvings in the Siddavatam, Madduru, Konduru, and Rolabodu forest areas.

Following her report, Dr Munirathnam obtained the necessary permissions for a more detailed study, bringing together a team of experts from Bengaluru and Chennai, including Yesubabu and Meka V Raghavendra Varma.

The team embarked on a three-day exploration from 27 February to 1 March, focusing on Gopalaswami Konda, a site 3,200 feet above sea level.

Here, they documented 12 label inscriptions in Siddhamatrika, Shankha script, and Devanagari, believed to date back to the 6th century CE. The inscriptions, exhibiting Kushan-era craftsmanship, were carved using a distinctive thumb-engraving technique.

The presence of names such as Sri Vishishta Kankanadhadi, Yedharmaja, and Chandrahasa points to the long-distance journeys undertaken by pilgrims to visit the revered temples of Lankamala.

The researchers also traced an ancient pilgrimage route connecting two Shaivite temples, further confirming the site’s religious importance.

On the second day, the team discovered 15 additional label inscriptions, including 14 in the rare Shankha script and one in Brahmi.

This marks the first recorded instance of Shankha script inscriptions in the Rayalaseema region.

A particularly remarkable find was a rock bearing two inscriptions from different periods—one in Brahmi from the fourth century and another in Shankha script from the sixth century—providing valuable insights into the evolution of writing styles in South India.

Despite the absence of communication signals, they persevered and ultimately identified 28 inscriptions, confirming human presence in the area across a span of over a thousand years.

This is the first time in 140 years that label inscriptions have been discovered inside a wildlife sanctuary, according to Dr Munirathnam.

The inscriptions, inscribed in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Brahmi, and Devanagari, were likely left by pilgrims as records of their sacred visits.

The final day of exploration yielded yet another extraordinary find—three rock shelters, one of which contained prehistoric rock paintings.

These artworks, depicting animals, geometric patterns, and human figures, were created using natural pigments such as Red Ochre, Kaolin, animal fat, and crushed bones, ensuring their survival for millennia.

Experts believe the site dates back to the Megalithic (Iron Age) and Early Historic periods (2500 BCE - 2nd century CE).

Recognising the significance of these discoveries, the ASI now plans to publish a comprehensive research volume documenting the inscriptions and prehistoric art.