Dolmens are prehistoric megalithic tombs that served as burial chambers for important individuals. Dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, they usually consist of two or more upright stone slabs topped by a massive capstone. What’s fascinating is that these structures aren’t unique to one region—they’re found across continents, including South America, even though the people of the Americas and Europe/Asia were unaware of each other’s existence back then.
One such remarkable site exists close to Bengaluru. About 90 km from the city, along the Hosur–Krishnagiri highway, lies Mallachandram village, where these dolmens are seen.
We visited them during our recent visit to Mallappa Konda. With some spare time before lunch, we decided to check out the site. Trusting Google Maps, we drove into the village and stopped at the place, which is the starting point of the trek. From there, a narrow track led us into the forest.
Not everything was peaceful though—an aggressive dog nearby made sure to voice its displeasure, barking at us non-stop. Thankfully, it was chained.
Deeper into the forest, we walked about 10 minutes before reaching a fork in the trail. Taking the right turn, we soon found ourselves at the base of a rocky hill. A short climb later, we arrived at the dolmen site.
Spread across a wide area, the dolmens stood on the hill, some still intact after centuries. I don’t know their exact age, but they must easily be more than 2,500 years old. It felt surreal to stand among them, surrounded by fragments of a forgotten world. The Krishnagiri belt, after all, is known for its prehistoric heritage—from rock art to burial structures—reminders of people who lived here long before recorded history.
The dolmens were scattered across two hills. We retraced our steps and climbed the second hill. The place was wonderfully peaceful. Standing there, I couldn’t help but let my imagination drift thousands of years back, picturing how this land might once have been—a landscape of hills, rituals, and people shaping stones into memorials for their dead. From the ridge, Bala Kondarayana Swamy Temple, a hill we had climbed earlier, rose tall on the skyline, dominating the view.
After spending some time exploring, we reluctantly made our way back. What struck me most was the lack of any information boards or markers. No signposts, no details about the site—just silent stones surviving by sheer luck. For a place of such historic importance, it truly deserves recognition and preservation.
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