A major conservation project at the Sahasralinga site in the Shalmala River (Karnataka) has led to the discovery of hidden subterranean ritual chambers beneath the riverbank. During the desilting of the riverbed, workers found a series of steps leading to three interconnected basalt rooms containing rare carvings of the Dashavatara and unknown inscriptions in the Old Kannada script.
Initial surveys suggest these chambers were used for esoteric meditation and seasonal rituals during periods when the river was at its lowest. The discovery adds a new layer of complexity to the Sahasralinga site, previously known primarily for the thousands of Shivalingas carved directly into the river rocks. Archaeologists are now mapping the underground network using ground-penetrating radar.