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@article{189789,
        author = {Mustaq Ahmad Shaikh and Farjana Birajdar},
        title = {THE LARGEST STONE LYBRINTH IN INDIA : GEOLOGICAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOASTRONOMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE 15 CIRCUIT LABYRINTH OF KHADAKI, DECCAN PLATEAU, MAHARASHTRA},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {203-216},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=189789},
        abstract = {This research paper presents a comprehensive geological and archaeological analysis of the recently discovered 15-circle stone labyrinth (chakravyuha) in Khadaki village, Tuljapur tehsil, Dharashiv district of Maharashtra, India. The structure represents India's largest known stone labyrinth, dating approximately 2,000 years before present, situated within the protected grassland region at coordinates approximately 17°45'5711"N 76°2'43.79"E. This megalithic monument exhibits unique architectural complexity with fifteen concentric circular stone arrangements, unprecedented in the Indian subcontinent. The study integrates geological analysis of the Deccan Trap basalt substrate, petrological characterization of the construction materials, archaeological contextualization within the Iron Age-Early Historic period, and comparative analysis with global labyrinth traditions. Findings suggest the structure served multifunctional purposes including ritual, astronomical observation, and possible connections to ancient trade networks linking the Indian subcontinent with Mediterranean civilizations.},
        keywords = {Chakravyuha, Deccan basalt, Dharashiv, Iron Age India, Labyrinth, Megalithic architecture.},
        month = {January},
        }