Vagaries of tourism ring death knell for Kerala's Megalithic dolmen site

 

Unrestricted tourism and apathy of the authorities concerned are taking a toll on the rare megalithic dolmen (Muniyara) of Marayoor near Munnar in  Kerala. 

 

Image Courtesy: Kerala Tourism

Spread over the slopes of Western Ghats in the villages of Marayoor, the dolmen, which date back to 5,000 years, according to ASI, are at the mercy of the domestic tourists and anti-social elements. Almost 90% of the dolmen at MuruganMala in Marayoor, where a majority of the rare granite structures are situated, have caved in or destroyed, thanks to the caprices of humans. The granite slabs of capstones are vandalised and displaced as some tourists find it a means of recreation to rearrange the dolmen and make new monuments, with least regard for history.

The granite structures on the rocky slops often are used as exotic location for booze parties and worse, some even use the historic burial places as toilets!
 

The local grama panchayat had allocated some funds recently to put up iron fencing around dolmen. But the fencing could not ensure the protection of these historical relics and the anti-socials are partying still, unmindful of the destruction of the valuable historic assets. 

A majority of the dolmen that is known to date back to the iron age have been destroyed over the years. However, the officials or Archaeology Department have no idea of how many dolmen disappeared in the recent past. A good number of the dolmen, situated in private lands, had been taken down when these relics gained fame. Fearing that the Archaeological Survey of India might take over the land as protected monuments, many landowners removed or destroyed the dolmen without trace.