Sittannavasal ....or what is left of its glory .
SITTANNAVASAL is a name one always hears as a sort of suffix to Ajanta , when talking of the artistic heritage of our land . But, while Ajanta enjoys immense popularity and traffic, Sittannavasal largely remains a name in Art Books only . Many are not even aware of where it is located or what it has to offer , other than having a vague idea that it has got some frescoes. ( - the Ajanta connection ! ) Remote it is, undeniably. In Pudukottai District of Tamil Nadu , about 15Kms from Pudukottai town and 50 Kms from Trichy, in a dry landscape stubbled with rocks and patches of uncultivated land. Greenery , along the way, is sparse. One huge , bald rock here , 70 meters tall, with natural caverns and shelters was chosen by Jain monks for their austerities from 2BCE to 10CE . Remnants of their life here remain, the most significant one being the Arivar Koil ( The Arhat's Abode) , which house the frescoes. This rock cut shrine is situated at the base of the hill, while higher up are