Krishna’s Butter Ball

Krishna's Butter Ball at Mahabalipuram is a naturally occurring giant granite boulder, approximately 5 metres in diameter and weighing around 250 tonnes, balanced precariously on a smooth slope with only a tiny base area of contact. The rock has defied all attempts to move it — even an attempt by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I using elephants reportedly failed. Its name comes from the belief that it looks like a ball of butter that might have rolled down from Krishna's hand. The rock is a popular tourist attraction and a fascinating geological curiosity — local guides delight in explaining why it hasn't moved in over 1,200 years.