Rome to Solapur: India’s largest circular labyrinth discovered in Boramani grasslands

KOLHAPUR: A classical 15-circuit labyrinth — the largest such circular maze-like structure discovered in India to date — has been found in Boramani grassland region of Solapur district.

Identified by archaeologist Sachin Patil from Deccan College, Pune, this discovery sheds new light on the ancient trade links between Ter in Dharashiv and Rome, dating back nearly 2,000 years.

The finding has garnered international attention and would be detailed in the 2026 edition of Caerdroia, a UK-based journal dedicated to mazes and labyrinths.

Until this week, the largest recorded circular labyrinth in India featured 11 circuits. This new find, measuring 50 feet by 50 feet, boasts 15 circuits. While a 56-foot square labyrinth in Gedimedu, Tamil Nadu, holds the record for the largest overall area, the Solapur discovery is now the second largest in terms of area and the largest in a circular formation.

Jeff Saward, editor of Caerdroia and a renowned labyrinth researcher, said, "This labyrinth belongs to the classical family, but the addition of a spiral in the center is a feature very specific to India, often called ‘chakravyuh'. This is surely the largest labyrinth made with rocks in India with so many circular circuits."

Archaeologist Patil said that these labyrinths likely acted as navigational markers for Roman merchants travelling via the western coast of Maharashtra to the northeast and other parts of India. "These merchants traded gold, wine, and ornamental precious stones in exchange for spices, silk, and indigo dye," he added.

P.D. Sabale, head of the archaeology department at Deccan College, said that the discovery has reinforced historical narratives. "The region comprising Kolhapur, Karad, and Ter was a major hub for foreign trade. Previous excavations at Bramhapuri in 1945 yielded a statue of the Graeco-Roman sea god Poseidon and a polished bronze mirror. The presence of labyrinths across Sangli, Satara, and Solapur suggests this entire belt was a bustling trade route — or 'silk route' — for Graeco-Roman merchants."

The ancient structure was first spotted by members of the Nature Conservation Circle, an NGO working in Boramani grassland safari sanctuary. The team, including Pappu Jamadar, Nitin Anvekar, Dhananjay Kakade, Bharat Chheda, Aditya Zhingade, and Sachin Sawant, noticed the stone formation while monitoring the Great Indian Bustard and Wolf populations. They documented the site and alerted archaeologist Sachin Patil.

Upon examining the site on Dec 17, Patil confirmed the structure's significance. Constructed from small stone blocks, the labyrinth features a distinct accumulation of soil— approximately 1.5 inches deep — between its rings, indicating that the structure has remained undisturbed for centuries. Patil further noted that the design resembles the labyrinth depicted on Crete coins (Roman currency in use between the 1st and 3rd centuries).

"The structure is more than 2,000 years old," said Patil. "Similar 11-circuit structures of smaller sizes have been recorded in Sangli, Satara, and Kolhapur districts. These were created in the hilly, undulating regions along the major trade routes of the Satavahana dynasty."

"Beyond navigation, labyrinths are associated with fertility in many cultures and serve as meditation tools. Locally, they are called ‘kode' (puzzle), but are also known as 'chakravyuh', 'manchakra', and 'yamadwar' in different traditions," Patil said.