Why hasn’t this giant rock moved in over 1,200 years?

In Mahabalipuram, India, a 250-ton granite boulder called Krishna’s Butterball sits perfectly balanced on a slope — defying logic, physics, and even attempts to move it with seven elephants. Legends say it was dropped from the heavens by Lord Krishna.

Science points to friction and gravity. From Pallava kings to British governors, from earthquakes to tsunamis, nothing has managed to shift this mysterious boulder. Today, it’s part puzzle, part playground — and a reminder that sometimes, the most ordinary-looking rock can hold the most extraordinary story.

📍 Location: Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), Tamil Nadu, India

A Mindia Explainer