Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Nov 28: A stone said to be the reason for the name of the place has been found at Kettikal on the outskirts of the city near Vamanjoor.

This stone was in between thorny bushes for so many years. On Monday, the NHAI removed the bushes for road widening work and the stone was found.

Locals urged the NHAI not to demolish the stone as Kettikal has hundreds of years of history and asked them to move it respectfully to some other location. The officials agreed to the request and said that they will use crane and rope to move the said stone.

Locals say that Kettikal name was given to the place after this stone which is carved. It seems to be 500 years old. Umesh Kotian of local Kalmaritha Kalavidaru organization says that elderly people used to say that people used to take rest on this stone while passing by the area on bullock carts.

Landslide also occurred in Kettikal decades ago. However, this stone is situated on the opposite side in a valley by the side of the highway. It looks like a Shivalinga. But it is not black stone. It is red quarry stone carved in circular motion. No inscription is found on the stone.

Umesh Kotian says that ‘Annaji’ movie was also shot in the same vicinity.