Carved onto a bed of rocks in Shalmala river, Karnataka are a curious set of Shiva lingams. Named ‘’ or a Thousand Lingas, they were built during the Vijayanagaram empire between 1678 and 1718. Most of the carvings are visible when the water level is not high but many still visit during Shivratri as it is considered a sacred site.
shivalinga
A similar place exists in Cambodia called Kbal Spean meaning ‘the Head Bridge’. Here too, carvings are found in the middle of a river but not well known. It also happens to be near Angkor Watt, the largest religious monument and Hindu temple in the world. Locals believe that the Lingas are a source of creative energy and will make their paddy fields more fertile.