The balancing rock
This enormous granite boulder rests on a short, smooth incline, seeming to defy gravity. Its Tamil name, Vaan Irai Kal, is often translated as "stone of the sky god". The English nickname compares it to a ball of butter from the Krishna legends.
Why it is here
The rock is a natural formation left by weathering, not carved — a counterpoint to the sculpted monuments nearby. It has reportedly withstood attempts to move it and remains firmly in place.
Visiting
It sits on the rocky hill near Arjuna's Penance, is free to see, and is a popular spot for the classic "holding up the boulder" photograph.