Hirebenkal Megalithic Dolmens - Historical landmark in Chikka Benkal - Koppal, India

It's an amazing trek that leads to megalithic tombs. One has to reach the railway track underpass from Hirebenekal village. The base of the trek starts there. Do carry plenty of drinking water and some food, also please do not litter the vicinity.

The megalithic site is 2800 years old and there are two major theories surrounding the place. First being that the site was a residential complex for dwarf humans and the second being burial site for the humans of those times. Whatever, the theory you wish to believe in the fact that the place is a treasure and you will certainly be amazed on the magnitude of construction and thought of life on this hill. The most spectacular among the megalithic sites around Hampi is Hire Benakal. Situated less than 10 km to the north of Hampi, just beyond a few rocky ridges, Hire Benakal can blow the minds of visitors away, much like Hampi does. Scattered among the haphazard agglomerations of large and small boulders characteristic of the region, are numerous megalithic dolmens constructed with large slabs of stone, as well as several lesser monuments. The dwarf legend Walking among these structures, one gets the eerie feeling of being in a ghost town of abandoned houses. Moriyara Mane (houses of the dwarves) is what the local residents of Hire Benakal call these, and the hill with the megaliths is Moriyara Gudda (hill of the dwarves). Legend has it that these structures were the houses of an extinct dwarf race called the Moriyas who were endowed with superhuman strength to split and heft heavy stone slabs to erect them. However, archaeology reveals a different picture. These structures were built to commemorate dead people of eminence during the Iron Age. There are over a thousand monuments of different sizes and forms at Hire Benakal making it one of India's most extensive megalithic sites. It also contains a wide variety of megalith types, making it virtually a museum of megalith forms. The large dolmens discussed earlier are the most prominent. They are box-like structures made of four upright stone slabs, with a large capstone covering and weighing down the structure. One of the upright slabs often has a circular or semi-circular hole called a porthole. Though the dolmens are tall enough for a grown person to walk in erect, the portholes are small - 15-18cm in diameter. Maybe this is what gave rise to the dwarf legend! Dolmenoid cists are smaller structures, about a metre tall, built in a similar manner as the dolmens, but half-buried in the ground. Cists are rectangular stone-lined graves fully sunk into the ground. Apart from these, there are crude dolmens made by raising a slab on smaller rocks and plugging the gaps with stone blocks and natural rock shelters plugged with stone blocks to create an enclosure. The monuments are distributed in three clusters, strung out roughly west to east. The western cluster contains more of the smaller structures - cist burials, crude dolmens and dolmenoid cists, while the central and eastern clusters contain most of the large dolmens. One of the large dolmens has an anthropomorphic figure, a slab shaped to resemble a human figure, probably a part of the vocabulary of ancestor worship. The intent of the Iron Age megalith builder seems to have been to create a chamber either above or below the ground, most probably to place human remains and burial goods. The porthole or similar opening probably served as a portal to insert votive offerings periodically. Built over centuries Given the sheer extent and number of monuments at Hire Benakal, it must have been a composite site built up over centuries. Whether the more refined monuments reflect an increasing familiarity and skill with stone-working, or exhibit the varying social class or affluence of the persons being commemorated is something we can only guess at.

Hire Benakal, located in Gangavathi Taluk of Koppal district in Karnataka finds itself on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for all the right reasons. Hire Benakal megalithic burial site dates back to the 800 BCE to 200 BCE, making it one of the oldest necropolises in India, and the largest one in South India. The megalithic burial site is located on top of a granite hillock which is a part of the Dharwad series of rocks, an important archaeological site. Located just 35 km from Hospet, the site of Hire Benakal encompasses an area of approximately 20 hectares, spread across three localities. The site is also a part of the Reserve Forest. One of the most striking features of Hire Benakal are the musical stones or the ringing stones. One such stone is called Kettledrum. This hemispherical stone, when beaten by a stone or wood, produces musical notes that can be heard beyond the distance of 1km. This probably had something to do with religious ceremonies or used as a village gong! One can imagine. There are around 1000 megalithic structures at Hire Benakal in the form of dolmens (megalithic tombs), passage chambers, stone circles, cairns and menhirs (tall upright stones). One interesting thing to note is that hundreds of these megalith monuments can be found near broad and shallow basins which were most probably rock pools that gathered rain water, and later on were used during the making of these structures.

An interesting place to visit. The site has around 70 to 100 stone huts created some 2000 to 3000 years ago, which could be much older. There is a pond next to them where you can find tall grass and lotuses. It's an easy trek, however, one must be alert all the time since the trail passes through a jungle. One can expect sightings of bears and/ or wolves in the area. Best time to trek is morning. If you're an experienced trekker you can do this solo, just the way i did. Easy way to reach this trail is either from Gangavathi by road or from Chikka Benekal railway station if one is coming from Hospet. One needs to walk for around 900 meters in order to reach base of the trail. Always carry plenty of water and food with you and do not litter. You will be able to see rock paintings at the half way. Overall it was a mesmerising experience.

It was good experience to watch those dolmens/graves of those megalithic sites. Also see from the top Nagari type drum which is natural.People locally call it Khubajara Betta and it is proposed for WORLD UNESCO HERITAGE SITE and its pride to us. Kindly please carry water bottles along with you while climbing the hill and please don't destroy those stones which helps to see their history about dolmens.

Hirebenkal, around 35 Kms from Hospet is a Megalithic burial Site, provides insights into funeral practices of that period. Once you reach Hirebenkal, You can park the vehicle near the Mango Groves. Then walk thru fields, you will reach a railway bridge, walk straight and turn right You will see a board describing the site. You can ask for route of few shepherds who you see there. We need to climb the hillock approx 3 Kms to reach top of site. Suggest to wear shoes. Climb slowly, look for animals. Literature says Megalithic burial sites dates back to 800 C to 200 BC. Follow the yellow arrow marks which are painted on rocks which will guide you. We will see a small source of water, which must have been serving them. One can see 100s of structures. There are small dolmens may be 1 ft height or big dolmens which are upto 3 mtr in height. One can see a circle entrance which is peculiar funeral structrue. One can also see a triangle shape cut at bottom of one side. May be entry space. There are some 3 sided structures, others are 4 sided and closed. Many are still there and some are destroyed. At some place, you will see a " drum" on the top of boulder, known as kettle drum.. When seen carefully , one can see some paintings. A request to many visitors, Please protect, dont do any damage, Dont throw plastic. Lets protect all these for generations to see. These are protected monuments by ASI and UNESCO

IMPORTANT : Start the walk from Moryar and follow the yellow signs : don t go first to this point.Prehistoric huge site with plenty of dolmens. Hard walk with rocks and bushes. GPS position is correct and there is 4g network there !!!

Locals calld this place moriyar mani. Better to visit with a local village guide.This place is close to chikbennikal railway station.better to reach from Hire bennikal village. You will drive a 2 four wheeler till these hills starting point.. From these hill entrance you will see some notice boards and arrow marks on rocks that indicates the right path to reach the mgalithic site. Better to carry food and lots of water along with you. You will get mobile networks even up on the hills. According to Indian archeological dept. These constructions happened around 3000 BC.