Department of B.Com (B&I, conducted a “Hiking Activity” on 10.10.2022. The students of II and III year B.Com (B&I) Hiking destination was to Perumal malai, which is a part of rock hills in ‘Thiruvurivagam” cluster near Keelakuilkudi. The path has many ups and downs and was not tar topped. Thorny bushes (seemai karuvelan) grown on both side of the road. There are more than 20 Jain’s beds in a natural rock shelter, which is about 20 feet from the ground level. Considering the number of beds, it is presumed that this Rock shelter might have been used as a learning centre. There is a Mahavir statue with damaged pedestal kept in between the beds under the canopy of the shelter. The Canopy has 7th century two bas-reliefs of Tirthankaras with Tamil inscriptions. In addition to this there is Brahmi inscription inscribed under the canopy.
The protruding canopy of the rock shelter was shaped such that the rain water cannot enter in to the shelter. The dripping water also channeled to go outside through carving on the rock floor.
In addition to the group of beds there is a platform, might have been used by the head of the monks during preaching. We could find a place for grinding of herbs used for medicine. It is evident that the Jain monks extended the medicinal service also. Hiking through this path gave an amazing experience to the students. Students learnt and got aware about the safeguarding the Historical places and Values. Totally, 120 students from II B.Com (B&I) and III B.Com (B&I) Students eagerly participated in the Hiking/ Heritage Walk activity.