Krishna’s Butterball is an ancient stone formation in Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram, Southeast India.
While Mamallapuram is more famous for its Shore Temple and other UNESCO sites, Krishna’s Butterball is also a tourist attraction and a great place to see at sunset.
Photos from Krishna’s Butterball Mahabalipuram.
Krishna’s Butterball Mahabalipuram
The round rock is thought to weigh in the region of 227,000 kg and yet it stands on a steep incline, lodged in place. It seems to defy science, yet friction and the rock’s centre of gravity hold it in place.
Butter is understood to have been Lord Krishna’s favourite food, and so, the boulder got its name.
Attempts have been made to move the rock over the years, for fear it may roll down the hill flattening the village, but the rock just won’t budge. History shows us that this rock resists tsunamis, typhoons and earthquakes.
The Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 hit Mamallapuram.
The back of Krishna’s Butterball is flat, the boulder is not perfectly round, although it appears to be from certain angles.The rock that the Butter Ball stands on is worn smooth by generations of children sliding down it. If you let your kids do this, they will ruin their shorts.
This famous boulder is just one of the many stone-related things to do in Mahabalipuram, India.
Krishna’s Butterball Location
Krishna’s Butterball is located in a public park area inland from the beach and shore temple at Mahabalipuram, west of the town. You can easily walk there from Mahabalipuram, or take a taxi. It’s to the north of the Pancha Rathas (5 rathas) historical site.
Mahabalipuram is on India’s west coast, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Chengalpattu district.
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Alyson Long
Alyson Long is a British medical scientist who jumped ship to chase dreams. A former Chief Biomedical Scientist at London's West Middlesex Hospital she started in website creation and travel writing in 2011.
Alyson is a full-time blogger and travel writer, a published author, and owns several websites. World Travel Family is the biggest.
A lifetime of wanderlust and over 6 years of full-time travel, plus a separate 12 month gap year, has given Alyson and the family some travel expert smarts to share with you on this world travel site.
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