History is a fascinating subject, but it also presents us with many unsolved puzzles. Test your detective skills as we explore the following unresolved mysteries in India.
The Ancient Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley is regarded as one of India’s greatest and most ancient civilizations. It was largely forgotten until its ruins were excavated in 1920. The Indus Civilization was one of the world’s first major urban cultures, spanning an area larger than ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia combined. For over five years, multiple international research teams combined satellite imagery and geological data to create a digital terrain map of the entire region where the Indus Civilization once existed.
10,000-Year-Old Stone Slab with Alien Traces
The Chhattisgarh Archeology and Culture Institute in India is calling for assistance from NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) in researching strange drawings of UFOs and aliens on 10,000-year-old stone slabs in a cave in the Charama region, Kanker district, Chhattisgarh state.
According to archaeologist JR Bhagat, the peculiar drawings depicting aliens on these stone slabs closely resemble figures from movies. Bhagat stated that it’s possible that in prehistoric times, humans saw aliens and images belonging to an extraterrestrial world.
According to local residents, their ancestors have long passed down tales of small, strange creatures called “Rohela.” These creatures were said to dwell in round flying objects in the sky, land on Earth, and abduct two villagers.
The Mystery of India’s Beautiful Millennium-Old Great Stupa
The Sanchi archaeological complex is located about 68km north of Madhya Pradesh state. This site is not only a structure that has been preserved almost entirely intact for thousands of years, but it is also considered one of the most perfect Buddhist stupa architectures. The most prominent structure in the Sanchi complex is the Great Stupa. This largest stupa is essentially a nearly perfect dome with a height of 15m and a radius of 30m, built with baked bricks and mortar.
Surrounding the stupa is a railing about one-third of the way up from the base. At the top of the stupa, there is a spacious square terrace, also enclosed by railings on all four sides. This is where ceremonies are held on important occasions.
Another railing, constructed from massive monolithic stone pillars, encloses the entire base of the stupa. This railing connects to four majestic, exquisitely carved stone gateways, called “toran Dwar,” which are positioned in the four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West.
The Secret Society of the East: The Nine Unknown Men
Ashoka, also known as Emperor Ashoka the Great, was the third emperor of the Maurya Empire in India, reigning from 273 to 232 BCE. Concerned about protecting his ancestral empire, prior to the Kalinga uprising (located between present-day Kolkata and Chennai), Emperor Ashoka dispatched an elite army that killed over 100,000 Kalinga warriors. Emperor Ashoka pledged to dedicate his mission to protecting the country and preventing those who would commit evil, especially war crimes.
In 226 BCE, according to some ancient texts, this emperor established a secret group of nine men with the goal of advancing science and technology without letting it destroy humanity.
So, are the “Nine Unknown Men” real? Ashoka might have done well by not requesting the names of these nine men to gather scientific knowledge, especially applications related to warfare. This was a challenging time, and other emperors were known for similar initiatives. These men might have explored different combat tactics and training, weapon manufacturing, horse/elephant handling, and perhaps even the use of gunpowder. However, it is hard to believe that an ancient secret group could exist for over 2,000 years, controlling global events from the remote forests of India without any hint of modern equipment, infrastructure, or technology. For many, this can only be a legend.
The Musical Pillars – Vittala Temple, Hampi – Karnataka State
The village of Hampi boasts many historically significant architectural structures, with the Vittala Temple being the most prominent. The temple is designed in Dravidian architecture, with exquisite carvings highlighting the skillful craftsmanship of the artisans of that era. Another feature that makes this temple famous is its 56 musical pillars. These pillars produce beautiful sounds when tapped, but when some British scientists tried to uncover the mystery inside by breaking two of the pillars, they found nothing.
The Mystery of the Growing Nandi Statue – Yaganti Temple – Andhra Pradesh
Located in Kurnool district, Yaganti is a famous Shiva temple where devotees gather in large numbers every year. The mystery lies in the Nandi statue placed here, which has been continuously growing in size over the years, and this is not a myth. The Archaeological Survey of India has confirmed that the statue grows by 2.5 cm every 20 years. Another mystery here is: According to legend, a sage cursed crows from flying into the temple, so there is never a single crow seen inside the temple.
The Floating Stones – Rameshwaram – Tamil Nadu State
Indian mythology recounts that to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana, Lord Rama built a bridge connecting Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait. The bridge was called Rama Setu. What is astonishing is that some stones found around the area, despite looking like ordinary stones, float when placed in water. The reason behind this phenomenon of floating stones has not yet been determined, despite being studied by many scientists.
The Giant Balancing Rock – Mahabalipuram – Tamil Nadu State
Krishna’s Butterball is a giant rock in Mahabalipuram famous for maintaining perfect balance despite being perched precariously on a slope. The rock is estimated to be about 6m high and has become a major tourist attraction. In 1908, a decision was made to remove the rock for fear that it might roll down and destroy nearby houses, but all efforts proved futile. What makes this rock remain stable at such an unimaginable angle? Science has yet to explain it.
Which of these enduring Indian mysteries do you find the most intriguing?
