Vikramkhol (Bikramkhol)
Vikramkhol is a cave containing pre-historic, undeciphered pictographic inscriptions. The cave is situated at a distance of 26 km to the west of Jharusguda.
The inscription is in a natural rock-shelter, six feet below the top. The rock is a rough sandstone. The rock-shelter is 115 feet (35 m) in length and 27 feet 7 inches (8.41 m) in height from the floor (35 m by 8.4 m). It faces north east. The inscribed portion is about 35 feet (11 m) by 7 feet (11 m by 2.1 m). Some of the letters are sharply cut, but the incision-marks of the majority do not show sharp cutting. It seems that an iron chisel was not used. Some of the letters are partly cut and partly painted, while some letters are only in paint, but the majority are completely cut. It is evident that all the letters were first painted before being incised, which was the method regularly employed in the period of Brahmi inscription. The color of the paint is red ochre, with which we are familiar in the pre-historic and historic caves and cave-buildings in India.
The inscription was discovered by an educated Sadhu, Swami Jnamananda. An examination of the letters, which at first sight give the impression of having Brahmi forms, showed that the writing was a mixture of Brahmi forms and a developed type of the Mohenjodaro script.
Read more about this topic: Historic Sites In Orissa