Researchers have established that the rows of menhirs at Mudumal are aligned to the rising and setting sun on the summer solstice, winter solstice, and equinoxes. This provided an accurate seasonal calendar for agriculture, thousands of years before modern calendars existed. The tallest menhirs (up to 14 ft) act as markers, while the smaller alignment stones (3,000 of them) form avenues and rows.

The Ursa Major (Saptarshi) depiction: On a flat rock surface, a series of cup marks (small cavities) have been deliberately arranged to mirror the seven stars of the Ursa Major constellation – the Great Bear / Saptarshi. This is the only known depiction of a star constellation from the megalithic period in South‑East Asia. The cup marks were made using a stick and sand. The two stars Dubhe and Merak (the “pointer stars”) help locate the North Star (Polaris), indicating that the people of Mudumal had figured out cardinal directions and may have used celestial navigation for travel. Sundeep Mukhta of Jai Makthala Trust has been campaigning for UNESCO recognition based on this unique astronomical feature.

The site contains three distinct types of burial setups, suggesting social division and complex funerary practices:

• Menhirs (Niluvu Raallu): Tall, un‑chiselled granite slabs (10–14 ft) standing upright. Some are arranged in circles (similar to Stonehenge). Weigh about 3 tonnes each.
• Cairn circles (Banthi rallu): Circles of smaller boulders, often covering urn burials. Some have ‘circle‑with‑a‑trident’ symbols engraved.
• Alignment stones: Over 3,000 smaller stones arranged in rows, forming avenues and alignments.

Excavations of the habitation mound (2.5 m thick) have yielded coarse red ware, black ware, black‑and‑red ware, grey ware, bangle pieces of shell and steatite, and large quantities of iron slag, indicating an iron‑using community. A microlithic workshop (1 acre) in the fields south of the village produced tools from chert, chalcedony, jasper, agate, carnelian, and quartz. Several urn burials containing bones and iron objects were also discovered.

In addition to the star chart, the site has petroglyphs (bruisings and engravings) and faint black paintings in a rock shelter (Yellamma Cheruvu Gundlu). The engravings include:

• A mother goddess figure with outstretched arms, hanging breasts, and legs apart.
• A crudely incised humped bull with upraised tail, forward‑curving horns, and prominent genitals.
• Multiple ‘circle‑with‑a‑trident’ symbols of different shapes and sizes, also found on megalithic burial stones at Chagatur.

The rock shelter is still worshipped as the local village goddess ‘Maisamma’. Villagers perform rituals here, offering sacrifices (fowls, sheep) to pray for rain. This continuity of worship – from the megalithic period to the present – is remarkable. One large menhir is revered as ‘Thimmappa’ (male deity) and a smaller black stone as ‘Yellama’ (female deity).

By Road: Mudumal village is connected by state highways.

• From Hyderabad: 180 km via NH65 to Jadcherla, then towards Narayanpet (approx 4 hours).
• From Narayanpet: 35 km – take the Narayanpet – Raichur road, then a right turn to Mudumal.
• From Raichur (Karnataka): 70 km.

Public buses from Narayanpet to Mudumal are infrequent; hiring a taxi or private vehicle is recommended. The last 2 km is a village road.

By Rail: Nearest railway station – Raichur (≈70 km) or Mahbubnagar (≈90 km).

By Air: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (≈180 km).

October – February (Peak): Pleasant weather (12°C – 28°C), ideal for walking the large site. The shadows are crisp for photography. If you want to experience the solstice alignment, plan around 21 June (summer solstice) or 21 December (winter solstice). The equinoxes (March 21 and September 23) also show dramatic alignments.
March – May (Summer): Very hot (35°C–44°C) – visit only early morning (before 9 AM) or late afternoon (4–6 PM). Carry ample water.
June – September (Monsoon): The landscape turns green and the crops are lush, but the approach road may become muddy. The rock art is best viewed in dry conditions.
Special day: Locals celebrate ‘Mudumal Thimmappa Jatara’ annually (dates vary) – a tribal fair near the menhirs.