Lok Sabha Question No. 117 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Delisting of Megalithic Sites in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO. *117

ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## DELISTING OF MEGALITHIC SITES IN TAMIL NADU

## *117 DR.T.SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it is a fact that  out  of  400  plus  centrally  protected  Archaeological Monuments/  Sites  under  both  Chennai  and  Tiruchirappalli  circles  in  Tamil  Nadu nearly 157 are megalithic monuments of different types and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it  is  true  that  some  of  the  megalithic  sites  that  were  identified  during  the British  rule  are  now  completely  untraceable  due  to  extensive  agriculture,  rapid urbanization and  infrastructure developments and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has conducted any recent survey to trace and record the list of such megalithic sites that got vanished and no longer considered a protected Monument/Site, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has received any plea for delisting of the megalithic sites in Tamil  Nadu  which  were  lost/vanished  due  to  urbanization  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government for delisting of vanished megalithic sites from the  list  of  centrally  protected  monuments/sites  under  section  35  of  the  Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958; and
- (f) the current status and live condition of the megalithic sites located at Guduvancheri, Nanmangalam, Pallavaram, Perungalathur, Sembakkam, Sittalapakkam, St.Thomas Mount Tiruneermalai, Tirisulam, Vallanjeri and Vandalur in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  117*  FOR  08.12.2025.RAISED  BY  DR.T.SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND: HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING DELISTING OF MEGALITHIC SITES IN TAMIL NADU

- (a) There  are  412  ancient  monuments  and  archaeological  sites  of  national importance in the State of Tamil Nadu under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), covering both the Chennai and Tiruchirappalli Circles. Out of these, 158 are megalithic monuments of different types. The circle-wise details are at Annexure.
- (b) None  of  the  megalithic sites notified as  monuments/  areas  of  national importance have become untraceable.
- (c) Question does not arise.
- (d) The  Government  has  received  certain  representations  from  individuals  and Residents' Welfare Associations seeking withdrawal of protection notifications in respect of some megalithic sites. Which are as follows-
1.  Representation  of  Sh.  Kishore  Vaangal  dated  11-4-2025  in  respect  of Megalithic Cists and Cairns, Ezhichur, District Kanchipuram.
2.  Representation  of  Sembakkam  Region  Residents'  Welfare  Association dated  8-11-2024  in  respect  of  Megalithic  Cists  and  Cairns,  Sembakam, District Kanchipuram.
- (e)   Question does not arise.
- (f) The megalithic sites at Guduvancheri, Nanmangalam, Pallavaram, Perungalathur, Sembakkam, Sittalapakkam, St. Thomas Mount, Tiruneermalai, Trisulam,  Vallanjeri  and  Vandalur  have  been  adversely  affected  by  rapid urbanization  and  related  developmental activities,  resulting  in  encroachments and unauthorized constructions within the Protected, Prohibited and Regulated Areas.  ASI  has  issued  stop-work  and  show-cause  notices  against  such violations in accordance with the AMASR Act, 1958 (as amended in 2010) and the  relevant  Rules.  The  cases  have  also  been  forwarded  to  the  concerned District Authorities  and  Local  Police  for  necessary  action,  and  regularly monitored to prevent further unauthorized activities.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *117 FOR 08.12.2024.

## MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES, IN THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU

|   SL. NO. | NAME OF THE MONUMENT                                                                 | LOCALITY        | DISTRICT     |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|--------------|
|         1 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Agaram          | Chengalpattu |
|         2 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Amur            | Chengalpattu |
|         3 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns in group                                                 | Araiyapakkam    | Chengalpattu |
|         4 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Atcharavakkam   | Chengalpattu |
|         5 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                          | Edakunram       | Chengalpattu |
|         6 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Gudalur         | Chengalpattu |
|         7 | Cairns in the Forest Reserve at the foot of the Perumbair hills                      | Kadamalaiputhur | Chengalpattu |
|         8 | Group of Cairns                                                                      | Kadapperi       | Chengalpattu |
|         9 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Kalanipakkam    | Chengalpattu |
|        10 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Kalvay          | Chengalpattu |
|        11 | Cists and Cairns                                                                     | Kannakapattu    | Chengalpattu |
|        12 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with Bounding stone circles                              | Kandalur        | Chengalpattu |
|        13 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                       | Kattuputhur     | Chengalpattu |
|        14 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists with stone circles                                       | Kilambakkam     | Chengalpattu |
|        15 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Madayattur      | Chengalpattu |
|        16 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Mailai          | Chengalpattu |
|        17 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Mampattu        | Chengalpattu |
|        18 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Manamai         | Chengalpattu |
|        19 | Large groups megalithic Cists and Cairns                                             | Melkottaiyur    | Chengalpattu |
|        20 | A Group of Cairns                                                                    | Nanmangalam     | Chengalpattu |
|        21 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                          | Nedungundram    | Chengalpattu |
|        22 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                          | Ottivakkam      | Chengalpattu |
|        23 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Ottiyambakkam   | Chengalpattu |
|        24 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists showing clear structural Postures                        | Pallavaram      | Chengalpattu |
|        25 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Perumbakkam     | Chengalpattu |
|        26 | Megalithic Cists with stone circles circumscribed                                    | Perungalattur   | Chengalpattu |
|        27 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                       | Ponmar          | Chengalpattu |
|        28 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Pundi           | Chengalpattu |
|        29 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                          | Sanur           | Chengalpattu |
|        30 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                          | Sembakkam       | Chengalpattu |
|        31 | Group of Cairns                                                                      | Senkunram       | Chengalpattu |
|        32 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Sirudavur       | Chengalpattu |
|        33 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Sittalapakkam   | Chengalpattu |
|        34 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                          | Thandalam       | Chengalpattu |
|        35 | Group of Cairns                                                                      | Tiruneermalai   | Chengalpattu |
|        36 | Megalithic cist                                                                      | Tiruneermalai   | Chengalpattu |
|        37 | Vast area of megalithic Cists and Cairns covering the entire hill with the temple of | Tiruporur       | Chengalpattu |

|    | Kailasanatha                                                                        |                    |              |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------|
| 38 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Vaiyavur           | Chengalpattu |
| 39 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists with stone circles                                      | Vallanjeri         | Chengalpattu |
| 40 | Megalithic cist                                                                     | Vandalur           | Chengalpattu |
| 41 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Virapuram          | Chengalpattu |
| 42 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Agaram             | Chengalpattu |
| 43 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Alattur            | Chengalpattu |
| 44 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Anur               | Chengalpattu |
| 45 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists with stone circles                                      | Ayyanjeri          | Chengalpattu |
| 46 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists with stone circles                                      | Guduvancheri       | Chengalpattu |
| 47 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Kalathur           | Chengalpattu |
| 48 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Kottamedu          | Chengalpattu |
| 49 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Kumili             | Chengalpattu |
| 50 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists with bounding stone circles                             | Kunnavakkam        | Chengalpattu |
| 51 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists with stone circles                                      | Kuruvanmedu        | Chengalpattu |
| 52 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Malaivaiyavur      | Chengalpattu |
| 53 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Musipakkam         | Chengalpattu |
| 54 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                      | Naduvakkarai       | Chengalpattu |
| 55 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                      | Nandivaram         | Chengalpattu |
| 56 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with bounding stone circles                             | Nattam             | Chengalpattu |
| 57 | Megalithic Cists and ciarns                                                         | Nellikuppam        | Chengalpattu |
| 58 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone cirles                                       | Olalur             | Chengalpattu |
| 59 | MagalithicCists and Cairns                                                          | Padur              | Chengalpattu |
| 60 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                      | Palliyagaram       | Chengalpattu |
| 61 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Paranur            | Chengalpattu |
| 62 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Porundavakkam      | Chengalpattu |
| 63 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Pudupakkam         | Chengalpattu |
| 64 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns bounded with stone circles                              | Pulipakkam         | Chengalpattu |
| 65 | Megalithic Cists circumscribed by stone circles                                     | Rajakulipettai     | Chengalpattu |
| 66 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                      | Rayalpattu         | Chengalpattu |
| 67 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns in virgin state                                         | Sastirampakkam     | Chengalpattu |
| 68 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                         | Sembakkam          | Chengalpattu |
| 69 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns intact with stone circles                               | Settipuniyam       | Chengalpattu |
| 70 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Sirukunram         | Chengalpattu |
| 71 | Urn Burial and Megalithic Site                                                      | St. Thomas Mount   | Chengalpattu |
| 72 | Sarcophagi and urns spread over a wide area; traces of Megalithic Cists and circles | Tirusulam          | Chengalpattu |
| 73 | Megalithic graveyard                                                                | Tiruvadisulam      | Chengalpattu |
| 74 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Unamanjeri         | Chengalpattu |
| 75 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                      | Vedanarayana puram | Chengalpattu |
| 76 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Vembedu            | Chengalpattu |
| 77 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                         | Vengur             | Chengalpattu |

|   78. | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                    | Venkitapuram               | Chengalpattu   |
|-------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------|
|    79 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                    | Venpakkam                  | Chengalpattu   |
|    80 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles                                    | Venpakkam                  | Chengalpattu   |
|    81 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                       | Pammadukulam               | Chennai        |
|    82 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                       | Pottur, Ambattur           | Chennai        |
|    83 | Prehistoric settlement site coeval with Megalithic period                         | Pulal, Ambattur            | Chennai        |
|    84 | Mandapakadu                                                                       | Chettipalayam              | Coimbatore     |
|    85 | Dolmens near Palamalai (attached to Adukkam village)                              | Adukkam                    | Dindigul       |
|    86 | Dolmens in Machur                                                                 | Pannaikadu                 | Dindigul       |
|    87 | Dolmens near Machur                                                               | Pannaikadu                 | Dindigul       |
|    88 | Dolmens near Talayar river on the top of a hill in Pannaikudu village             | Pannaikadu                 | Dindigul       |
|    89 | Dolmens in Vilpatti village                                                       | Vilpatti                   | Dindigul       |
|    90 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with bounding stone circles                           | Echchur                    | Kanchipuram    |
|    91 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                       | Elutchur                   | Kanchipuram    |
|    92 | Megalithic Cairns and cist                                                        | Erumaiyur                  | Kanchipuram    |
|    93 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with bounding stone circles                           | Gunduperumbedu             | Kanchipuram    |
|    94 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                       | Karanithangal,             | Kanchipuram    |
|    95 | Megalithic cist and Cairns with stone circles on the hill                         | Kunnattur                  | Kanchipuram    |
|    96 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with bounding stone circles                           | Maganiyam                  | Kanchipuram    |
|    97 | Megalithic Cists&Cairns with Bounding stone circles                               | Malaipattu                 | Kanchipuram    |
|    98 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                       | Nandambakkam               | Kanchipuram    |
|    99 | Megalithic cist and Cairns                                                        | Perunagar                  | Kanchipuram    |
|   100 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                       | Settupattu                 | Kanchipuram    |
|   101 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with stone circles in excellent preservation          | Sirukalattur               | Kanchipuram    |
|   102 | Dolmen intact                                                                     | Uttiramerur                | Kanchipuram    |
|   103 | Megalithic cist Cairns with bounding stone circles                                | Vadamangalam               | Kanchipuram    |
|   104 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                       | Venpakkam                  | Kanchipuram    |
|   105 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                       | Palayasivaram              | Kanchipuram    |
|   106 | Megalithic Cairns with stone circles and sarcophagi                               | Sikkarayapuram             | Kanchipuram    |
|   107 | Megalithic Cairns and Cists                                                       | Tattanur                   | Kanchipuram    |
|   108 | MegalihicCairns and Cists                                                         | Vadakkupattu               | Kanchipuram    |
|   109 | Cromlechs                                                                         | Kadamalaiputhur            | Kanchipuram    |
|   110 | Group of sculptured dolmens in Banagudi Shola of Jakkanarai, a hamlet of Kotagiri | Banagudisholai (Melkundah) | Nilgiris       |
|   111 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                       | Karai                      | Perambalur     |
|   112 | The dolmens and Cairns                                                            | Amburapatti                | Pudukkottai    |
|   113 | The site locally known as "Kuranguppattarai" (Prehistoric burial                  | Ammachatram                | Pudukkottai    |

|   114. | The Prehistoric burials, stone circles and menheirs                                                                                                             | Annavasal                 | Pudukkottai   |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------|
|    115 | The dolmens in the right flank of Chokkanathamkanmoi                                                                                                            | Chokkanathanpatti         | Pudukkottai   |
|    116 | The dolmens near 9/6 mile on road No. 22, Kiranur - Killukottai                                                                                                 | Kilaiyur                  | Pudukkottai   |
|    117 | The Pre-historic burial sites                                                                                                                                   | Melur                     | Pudukkottai   |
|    118 | The dolmens                                                                                                                                                     | Mootampatti               | Pudukkottai   |
|    119 | The old burial sites in the three groups 1. Pappankulamwaterspread, Vathanakkurichi Tumbakkulamwaterspread, Vathanakkurichi Tumbakkulamwaterspread,             | Narangianpatti            | Pudukkottai   |
|    120 | The dolmens                                                                                                                                                     | Perungalur                | Pudukkottai   |
|    121 | Prehistoric dolmens                                                                                                                                             | Peyal                     | Pudukkottai   |
|    122 | The dolmens and the Ayyanar image                                                                                                                               | Poyyamani and Virudapatti | Pudukkottai   |
|    123 | The prehistoric burials                                                                                                                                         | Puttambur                 | Pudukkottai   |
|    124 | The Prehistoric burial sites                                                                                                                                    | Sathiyamangalam           | Pudukkottai   |
|    125 | The cairns and urns in Kallukulam                                                                                                                               | Sendakudi                 | Pudukkottai   |
|    126 | The dolmens and urns                                                                                                                                            | Sengalur                  | Pudukkottai   |
|    127 | The Dolmens in Annavasalvattam                                                                                                                                  | Sittannavasal             | Pudukkottai   |
|    128 | The Dolmens known as Kurangupattarai                                                                                                                            | Thayinipatti              | Pudukkottai   |
|    129 | The prehistoric burials                                                                                                                                         | Thekkattur                | Pudukkottai   |
|    130 | The Kalasakkadu Burial sites                                                                                                                                    | Tirukkattalai             | Pudukkottai   |
|    131 | The group of dolmens near CholiswaraUdayar temple                                                                                                               | Tiruppur                  | Pudukkottai   |
|    132 | The Prehistoric Burial Sites                                                                                                                                    | Vadagupatti               | Pudukkottai   |
|    133 | The old burial sites in the three groups Pappankulamwaterspread, Vathanakkurichi Tumbakkulamwaterspread, Vathanakkurichi Tumbakkulamwaterspread, Narangianpatti | Vathanakkurichi           | Pudukkottai   |
|    134 | The Prehistoric burial sites                                                                                                                                    | Vilapatti                 | Pudukkottai   |
|    135 | Adichanallur Prehistoric Remains                                                                                                                                | Adichanallur              | Thoothukudi   |
|    136 | Adichanallur Prehistoric Remains                                                                                                                                | Kalvoi                    | Thoothukudi   |
|    137 | Adichanallur Prehistoric Remains                                                                                                                                | Karungulam                | Thoothukudi   |
|    138 | Ancient Site                                                                                                                                                    | Kunnathur                 | Tirunelveli   |
|    139 | Prehistoric sites popularly known as 'Pandava graves'                                                                                                           | Kanyampundi               | Tiruppur      |
|    140 | Urn Burials                                                                                                                                                     | Amirthamangalam           | Tiruvallur    |
|    141 | Megalithic Cists                                                                                                                                                | Chedalpakkam              | Tiruvallur    |
|    142 | Megalithic Cairns and Barrows                                                                                                                                   | Neyveli                   | Tiruvallur    |
|    143 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                                                                                                     | Pondavakkam               | Tiruvallur    |
|    144 | Megalithic Cairns Bounding with stone circles                                                                                                                   | Vanamalli                 | Tiruvallur    |
|    145 | Virgin group containing many barrows                                                                                                                            | Attanthangal              | Tiruvallur    |

|     | excellently preserved                                                                                |                              |                |
|-----|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------|
| 146 | Urn Burials                                                                                          | Palavakkam                   | Tiruvallur     |
| 147 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns with Bounding stone circles                                              | Panchali (Agarambedu Hamlet) | Tiruvallur     |
| 148 | Cairns site                                                                                          | Sengari                      | Tiruvallur     |
| 149 | Megalithic Cairns with Bounding stone circles                                                        | Siruvadu                     | Tiruvallur     |
| 150 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                                          | Tadipadi                     | Tiruvallur     |
| 151 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                                          | Nedungal                     | Tiruvannamalai |
| 152 | Megalithic Cists                                                                                     | Tellur                       | Tiruvannamalai |
| 153 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                                          | Tetturai                     | Tiruvannamalai |
| 154 | Megalithic Cists and Cairns                                                                          | Venkunnam                    | Tiruvannamalai |
| 155 | Site containing megalithic burials including the monolithic anthromorphic figure erected at the site | Mottur                       | Tiruvannamalai |
| 156 | Urn Burial site                                                                                      | Kadagampattu                 | Villupuram     |
| 157 | Megalithic Cairns with stone circles                                                                 | Sengamedu                    | Villupuram     |
| 158 | Megalithic stone circles                                                                             | Tiruvakkarai                 | Villupuram     |

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