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[[File:Tricky_rock.jpg|alt=|thumb|Krishna's Butterball, side profile viewed from west to east.]]
[[File:Tricky_rock.jpg|alt=|thumb|Krishna's Butterball, side profile viewed from west to east.]]


'''Krishna's Butterball''' (also known as '''Vaan Irai Kal'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/krishnas-butter-ball|title=Krishna's Butter Ball|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref> and '''Krishna's Gigantic Butterball''') is a gigantic [[granite]] [[boulder]] resting on a short incline in the historical coastal resort town of [[Mamallapuram]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] state of India.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Eric Grundhauser|title=The Delicately Balanced Beauty of Krishna's Butter Ball|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2015/08/04/the_delicately_balanced_boulder_known_as_krishna_s_butter_ball_is_a_lovely.html|accessdate=21 May 2016|work=Slate|date=4 August 2015}}</ref>  
'''Krishna's Butterball''' (also known as '''Vaan Irai Kal'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/krishnas-butter-ball|title=Krishna's Butter Ball|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref> and '''Krishna's Gigantic Butterball''') is a gigantic [[granite]] [[boulder]] resting on a short incline in the historical coastal resort town of [[Mamallapuram]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] state of India.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Eric Grundhauser|title=The Delicately Balanced Beauty of Krishna's Butter Ball|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2015/08/04/the_delicately_balanced_boulder_known_as_krishna_s_butter_ball_is_a_lovely.html|accessdate=21 May 2016|work=Slate|date=4 August 2015}}</ref>


Being part of the [[Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram]], a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] built during 7th- and 8th-century CE as Hindu religious monuments by the [[Pallava dynasty]], it is a popular tourist attraction.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p399">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PA399|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|page=399}}</ref><ref name=Unesco>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/|title=Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram|accessdate=23 October 2012|publisher=UNESCO.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Neha Vashishth|title=These Mysterious Places In India Totally Defy Gravity!|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/news-hf/LIF-WEW-weird-places-in-india-where-gravity-has-no-power-5300560-PHO.html|accessdate=22 May 2016|work=dailybhaskar|date=16 April 2016}}</ref> It is listed as a protected national monument by the [[Archeological Survey of India]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20180919070208/http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-tamil-nadu/</ref>
Being part of the [[Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram]], a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] built during the seventh- and eighth-century CE as Hindu religious monuments by the [[Pallava dynasty]], it is a popular tourist attraction.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p399">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PA399|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|page=399}}</ref><ref name=Unesco>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/|title=Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram|accessdate=23 October 2012|publisher=UNESCO.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Neha Vashishth|title=These Mysterious Places In India Totally Defy Gravity!|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/news-hf/LIF-WEW-weird-places-in-india-where-gravity-has-no-power-5300560-PHO.html|accessdate=22 May 2016|work=dailybhaskar|date=16 April 2016}}</ref> It is listed as a protected national monument by the [[Archeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments – Tamil Nadu |url=http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-tamil-nadu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919070208/http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-tamil-nadu/ |archive-date=19 September 2018 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=asi.nic.in}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
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==History==
==History==
[[File:Butter_well_at_Mahabalipuram.jpg|alt=|thumb|right|Butter well, 40 meter north of Krishna's Butterball.]]
[[File:Butter_well_at_Mahabalipuram.jpg|alt=|thumb|right|Butter well, {{convert|40|m|ft}} north of Krishna's Butterball]]


The [[Pallava]] king [[Narasimhavarman]] (630–668 CE) also made a failed attempt to move the boulder.<ref name=":0" /> The Indian [[Tamil people|Tamil]] king [[Raja Raja Chola]] (985 and 1014 CE) was inspired by the balance of this massive stone boulder and it led to the creation of never-falling mud dolls called ''[[Thanjavur doll|Tanjavur Bommai]]'', which having a half-spherical base tends to come back to its original position every time one tries to make it fall.{{fact|date=September 2018}} In 1908, then-governor of the city [[Arthur Havelock]] made an attempt to use seven elephants to move the boulder from its position due to safety concerns, but with no success.{{fact|date=September 2018}} On October 12, 2019, Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and Chinese President [[Xi Jinping]] took a photo in front of Krishna's Butterball holding hands during their second "informal summit".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/camaraderie-marks-start-of-modi-xi-informal-summit/article29660482.ece|title=Camaraderie marks start of Modi-Xi 'informal summit'|last=Ramakrishnan|first=T.|date=2019-10-11|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-19|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
The [[Pallava]] king [[Narasimhavarman]] (630–668 CE) also made a failed attempt to move the boulder.<ref name=":0" /> The Indian [[Tamil people|Tamil]] king [[Raja Raja Chola]] (985 and 1014 CE) was inspired by the balance of this massive stone boulder and it led to the creation of never-falling mud dolls called ''[[Thanjavur doll|Tanjavur Bommai]]'', which having a half-spherical base tends to come back to its original position every time one tries to make it fall.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} In 1908, then-governor of the city [[Arthur Havelock]] made an attempt to use seven elephants to move the boulder from its position due to safety concerns but with no success.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} On 12 October 2019, Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and Chinese President [[Xi Jinping]] took a photo in front of Krishna's Butterball holding hands during their second "informal summit".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/camaraderie-marks-start-of-modi-xi-informal-summit/article29660482.ece|title=Camaraderie marks start of Modi-Xi 'informal summit'|last=Ramakrishnan|first=T.|date=2019-10-11|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-19|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


==Details==
==Details==
The boulder is approximately 6 meters high and 5 meters wide and weighs around 250 tons.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Samonway Duttagupta|title=7 of the most incredible natural wonders in India|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/7-of-the-most-incredible-natural-wonders-in-india-maharashtra-lonar-tamil-nadu-kerala-valley-of-flowers-karanataka-travel/1/635723.html|accessdate=21 May 2016|work=[[India Today]]|date=5 April 2016}}</ref> It seems to float and barely stand on a slope on top of {{convert|4|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip|sp=us}} high plinth which is a naturally eroded hill, and is said to have been at the same place for 1200 years.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=IndiaTimes>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiatimes.com/culture/travel/this-is-krishna-s-mysterious-butter-ball-rock-and-it-has-never-rolled-downhill-250079.html |title=This Is Krishna's Mysterious 'Butter Ball' Rock And It Has Never Rolled Downhill |author=Neha Borkar |date=7 February 2016 |work=IndiaTimes |accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref> A part of the boulder on top back has eroded away, making it look like a half-spherical rock from the back, while it looks round shaped from other three sides.
The boulder is approximately {{convert|6|m|ft|spell=in}} high and {{convert|5|m|ft|spell=in}} wide and weighs around {{convert|250|t|ton}}.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Samonway Duttagupta|title=7 of the most incredible natural wonders in India|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/7-of-the-most-incredible-natural-wonders-in-india-maharashtra-lonar-tamil-nadu-kerala-valley-of-flowers-karanataka-travel/1/635723.html|accessdate=21 May 2016|work=[[India Today]]|date=5 April 2016}}</ref> It seems to float and barely stand on a slope on top of {{convert|4|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip|sp=us}} high plinth which is a naturally eroded hill and is said to have been at the same place for 1,200 years.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=IndiaTimes>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiatimes.com/culture/travel/this-is-krishna-s-mysterious-butter-ball-rock-and-it-has-never-rolled-downhill-250079.html |title=This Is Krishna's Mysterious 'Butter Ball' Rock And It Has Never Rolled Downhill |author=Neha Borkar |date=7 February 2016 |work=IndiaTimes |accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref> A part of the boulder on top back has eroded away, making it look like a half-spherical rock from the back, while it appears round shaped from other three sides.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights="150px">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Krishna's Butter Ball, Mamallapuram.JPG|Krishna's Butter Ball, side profile viewed from east t west.
File:Krishna's Butter Ball, Mamallapuram.JPG|Krishna's Butter Ball, side profile viewed from east to west
File:India_-_Temples_&_Towers_-_018_-_Mamallapuram_-_Krishna's_Butterball.jpg|"Take this path to your goal", <br>frontal long shot viewed from south to north.
File:India - Temples & Towers - 018 - Mamallapuram - Krishna's Butterball.jpg|viewed from south to north
File:Krishna's_Butter_ball_3.jpg|"Oh my goat", <br>frontal profile viewed from southeast to northwest.
File:Krishna's Butter ball 3.jpg|viewed from southeast to northwest
File:Krishna's_Butter_Ball,_Mahabalipuram.JPG|"The rock solid", <br>side profile viewed from east to west.
File:Krishna's Butter Ball, Mahabalipuram.JPG|viewed from east to west
File:Krishna_Butterballl.jpg|"Dare to rest precariously", <br>side profile viewed from northeast to southwest.
File:Krishna Butterballl.jpg|viewed from northeast to southwest
File:Krishna_Butter_ball.JPG|"Tumble, if you can", <br>rear profile viewed from north to south.
File:Krishna Butter ball.JPG|viewed from north to south
File:Krishna_Butter_Ball_in_Mahabalipuram.jpg|"The tricky rock", <br>side profile viewed from west to east.
File:Krishna Butter Ball in Mahabalipuram.jpg|viewed from west to east
File:India - Temples & Towers - 019 - Mamallapuram - Krishna's Butterball.jpg|"Have one more dollop", <br>side profile closeup viewed from southwest to northeast.
File:India - Temples & Towers - 019 - Mamallapuram - Krishna's Butterball.jpg|viewed from southwest to northeast
File:Krishna’s_Butter_Ball_-_Evening.JPG|"The surreal twilight zone", <br>side profile viewed from southwest to northeast.
File:[email protected]|"The golden sunrise", <br>side profile viewed from northwest to southeast.
</gallery>
</gallery>



Revision as of 03:04, 15 March 2022

A child sitting under Krishna's Butterball in Mamallapuram
Krishna's Butterball, side profile viewed from west to east.

Krishna's Butterball (also known as Vaan Irai Kal[1] and Krishna's Gigantic Butterball) is a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline in the historical coastal resort town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu state of India.[2]

Being part of the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built during the seventh- and eighth-century CE as Hindu religious monuments by the Pallava dynasty, it is a popular tourist attraction.[3][4][5] It is listed as a protected national monument by the Archeological Survey of India.[6]

Etymology

The original name, Vaan Irai Kal, according to the Atlas Obscura, translates from Tamil as "Stone of Sky God".[1] According to Hindu scriptures, lord Krishna often stole butter from his mother's butter handi; this may have led to the namesake of the boulder.[1] In 1969, a tour-guide is said to credit its present name, Krishna's Butterball, to Indira Gandhi who was on a tour of the city.[7]

History

Butter well, 40 metres (130 ft) north of Krishna's Butterball

The Pallava king Narasimhavarman (630–668 CE) also made a failed attempt to move the boulder.[1] The Indian Tamil king Raja Raja Chola (985 and 1014 CE) was inspired by the balance of this massive stone boulder and it led to the creation of never-falling mud dolls called Tanjavur Bommai, which having a half-spherical base tends to come back to its original position every time one tries to make it fall.[citation needed] In 1908, then-governor of the city Arthur Havelock made an attempt to use seven elephants to move the boulder from its position due to safety concerns but with no success.[citation needed] On 12 October 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping took a photo in front of Krishna's Butterball holding hands during their second "informal summit".[8]

Details

The boulder is approximately six metres (20 ft) high and five metres (16 ft) wide and weighs around 250 tonnes (250 long tons; 280 short tons).[9] It seems to float and barely stand on a slope on top of 1.2-meter (4 ft) high plinth which is a naturally eroded hill and is said to have been at the same place for 1,200 years.[1][10] A part of the boulder on top back has eroded away, making it look like a half-spherical rock from the back, while it appears round shaped from other three sides.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Krishna's Butter Ball". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. Eric Grundhauser (4 August 2015). "The Delicately Balanced Beauty of Krishna's Butter Ball". Slate. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  3. James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 399. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.
  4. "Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram". UNESCO.org. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  5. Neha Vashishth (16 April 2016). "These Mysterious Places In India Totally Defy Gravity!". dailybhaskar. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  6. "Alphabetical List of Monuments – Tamil Nadu". asi.nic.in. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. "Krishna's Butter Ball - Ancient Aliens In India? ~ Places on the planet you must see". Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  8. Ramakrishnan, T. (11 October 2019). "Camaraderie marks start of Modi-Xi 'informal summit'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  9. Samonway Duttagupta (5 April 2016). "7 of the most incredible natural wonders in India". India Today. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  10. Neha Borkar (7 February 2016). "This Is Krishna's Mysterious 'Butter Ball' Rock And It Has Never Rolled Downhill". IndiaTimes. Retrieved 29 September 2016.

Coordinates: 12°37′09″N 80°11′32″E / 12.6191°N 80.1923°E / 12.6191; 80.1923