Discover the lost secrets of an ancient Tamil kingdom in this thrilling underwater adventure!

When twelve-year-old Anika finds mysterious pottery fragments washed up by Cyclone Mandous on Chennai's Marina Beach, she thinks they're just interesting broken clay. But these ancient pieces hold the key to Puhar—a legendary Tamil city that vanished beneath the waves fifteen hundred years ago.

Racing against ruthless treasure hunters who will stop at nothing to claim the underwater ruins for profit, Anika teams up with her brilliant grandmother, a marine archaeologist, a classical dancer who knows ancient secrets, and a young fisherman whose family has guarded maritime mysteries for generations.

This isn't just about finding a lost city—it's about protecting it.

Using cutting-edge underwater technology alongside traditional Tamil knowledge preserved in dance, fishing practices, and ancient manuscripts, Anika's team makes the archaeological discovery of a lifetime. But James Patterson and his commercial excavation company are determined to strip-mine the ruins for valuable artifacts, destroying irreplaceable cultural heritage in the process.

From high-speed boat chases across the Bay of Bengal to exploring underground tunnel systems beneath Chennai, from decoding ancient Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions to surviving dangerous cyclone conditions, Anika must find the courage to protect Puhar's secrets before they're lost forever.

Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Blue Balliett, The Keepers of Puhar combines heart-pounding adventure with authentic cultural heritage, showing how traditional knowledge and modern archaeology can work together to preserve humanity's greatest treasures.

A story about family, friendship, courage, and the power of protecting what matters most.

Ages 10-14 | Middle Grade Adventure Fiction