Hyderabad: Mesolithic rock art in the forests of Manchirevula, estimated to be between 6,000 and 12,000 years old, is under severe threat due to rampant vandalism by visitors.
Ecologists and conservationists warn that careless scribblings and etchings by tourists on these ancient rock surfaces on the periphery of Hyderabad are erasing what is essentially a rare glimpse into early human habitation in the Deccan region.

The Mesolithic Age sits between the Palaeolithic or the old stone age and the Neolithic Age or the new stone age. Experts have found that Mesolithic artwork increasingly put humans at the centre of the dramas they painted.
With nearly 30% of the artwork at Manchirevula already damaged, conservationists are urging authorities to step in before this invaluable heritage is lost forever. The rock paintings, believed to be one of the earliest art forms in the region, depict tortoises and abstract figures, offering crucial insights into the lives of prehistoric communities.
“These irreplaceable artworks are now being defaced with irresponsible visitors scribbling names, symbols, and drawings on them,” said Arun Vasireddy, an ecologist and an expert on rocks.
He further said, “People don’t realise the archaeological significance of these paintings. They casually scribble their names over them or try to erase existing graffiti, which further damages the fragile artwork. This is not just vandalism; it is the erasure of history itself.”
Experts highlight that Hyderabad, once known for its majestic rock formations and prehistoric art, has already lost most of its geological and cultural heritage due to rapid urbanisation. “The city’s famed granite rockscapes — once integral to its identity — have been bulldozed to make way for real estate projects, leaving only a handful of protected sites like the one in Khajaguda and Manchirevula,” said Sangeeta Verma from Society to Save Rocks.
Experts are now calling on the forest department and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to officially recognise the site and install protective fencing. “We have not received any such complaints yet. But if we do, we will definitely try to preserve it,” said an official from the forest department.