Telangana invites those interested in digging Mudumalu megalithic menhirs, where ancient stones are aligned with the Sun

The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs site, located about four km southwest of Mudumal village near the Krishna River, is spread over about 80 acres of gently undulating terrain | Photo credit: Special arrangement

What did people living 3,500 to 4,000 years ago know about the night sky? At Mudumalu in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, upright stones, megalithic burial circles and rock carvings depicting constellations offer clues to how ancient communities observed the heavens. The Telangana Heritage Department has now invited tenders for excavation at the site with an estimated contract value of Rs 39.97 lakh and a completion time of four months.

Rocks bearing markings

The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs site, located about four km southwest of Mudumal village near the Krishna River, is spread over about 80 acres of gently undulating terrain. In its provisional listing submission to UNESCO on 11 February 2025, India described the site as an important archaeological landscape containing standing stones, stone circles associated with megalithic burials and rocks with markings interpreted as representations of celestial bodies and constellations.

A prehistoric observatory?

What makes Mudumal particularly significant is the arrangement of its standing stones, known as menhirs, and the markings on its rocks. The UNESCO provisional listing states that some of the menhirs appear to be aligned with the rising and setting Sun during the summer and winter solstices, suggesting that the site may have served as an ancient observatory.

The site also contains a blockstone bearing cup marks interpreted as representing Ursa Major, commonly known as the Ursa Major constellation and associated in Hindu tradition with the Saptarishi, or Seven Sages. Another flat rock, located southwest of the main concentration of menhirs, bears features interpreted as depictions of the Ursa Major and Leo, along with a possible planetary representation.

The UNESCO description further identifies these celestial markings as one of the distinctive features of the site. He also notes that the stones and their alignments can offer insight into how ancient communities interpreted celestial phenomena and incorporated their observations into navigation and cultural practices.

The tender specifies an estimated contract value of ₹ 39.97 lakh and requires the selected contractor to complete the work within four months. Before opening commercial bids from qualified bidders, the department will review the technical bids. The contract will be awarded to the technically qualified bidder who offers the lowest price in accordance with the tender conditions.

Published – 14 October 2026 11:40 AM IST