Rare Deer Hunting Hero-Stone Discovered in Kundapura, Udupi

Archaeologists and local historians reported the uncovering of a stone memorial, known locally as a hero stone, in the outskirts of Kundapura, Udupi district. The slab, engraved with a depiction of a hunter mid‑hunt and a stylised deer, is believed to date back to the 14th century.

Hero stones, or virgal, are a long‑standing tradition in Karnataka that commemorate warriors, priests or villagers who performed acts of bravery, often at the cost of their lives. The new find is significant because it is one of the few surviving monuments that specifically references an ecological target – a rare deer species that once roamed the Western Ghats.

The discovery offers an opportunity for scholars to study local epigraphy and the region’s relationship with wildlife, while the local council plans to preserve the slab and create an informational plaque for visitors. The find has reignited interest in Udupi’s heritage and community pride. Source: Google News – Udupi District.