Kaviyoor Rock Cut Temple

Kaviyoor Rock Cut Temple, also known as Thrikkakkudi Cave Temple, is an 8th-century rock-cut shrine in Kaviyoor village near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, on the banks of the Manimala River. Carved from a single rock formation, it is one of the oldest cave temples in Kerala and is protected as a centrally protected monument. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it exhibits Pallava-style architecture with a Shiva lingam and sculpted figures, attracting pilgrims and heritage visitors.

Visitors can expect a small rock-cut cave shrine carved into a hillside with a rectangular verandah, inner sanctum housing a Shiva lingam, and stone carvings of deities including Ganapathi. The temple is set in a quiet village environment near the Manimala River, surrounded by greenery. The interior is dimly lit and compact, with stone pillars and sculptures to observe. The site is both an active place of worship and an archaeological monument.

Dated to the 8th century and attributed to the Pallava period, the Kaviyoor Rock Cut Temple is one of the earliest and rare Brahmanical rock-cut temples in Kerala. Carved from a single rock outcrop, it represents early Dravidian rock-cut architecture and is designated as a centrally protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is an active Hindu shrine and an important example of Kerala's early temple architecture. It reflects Shaivite worship traditions and is culturally significant as one of the few Pallava-style cave temples in the state, located close to the revered Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple.