5 places to discover
Dharmaraja Mandapam is a rock-cut cave temple in Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. Excavated during the Pallava period in the 7th century, it features three sanctums dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Notable for its pillared hall, inscriptions and early Dravidian architecture, it illustrates the transition from rock-cut to structural temple styles.
Sittannavasal Jain Cave is a rock-cut cave temple complex located on a hillock in Sittannavasal village, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu. Dating to the 7th to 9th century during the Pandya period, it is known as Arivar Kovil and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The site is notable for its Jain Tirthankara sculptures, Tamil-Brahmi and Tamil inscriptions, and ancient fresco paintings.
Tiger Cave is a rock-cut temple complex located at Saluvankuppam, about 5 km north of Mahabalipuram in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. Situated near the Bay of Bengal, it features a large rock with carved shrines and a crown of sculpted yali heads resembling tigers. Attributed to the Pallava period in the 8th century CE, the unfinished complex is notable for its distinctive coastal setting, Pallava rock-cut architecture, and secluded beach surroundings.
The Undavalli Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple is a rock-cut Hindu temple located within the Undavalli Caves in Undavalli village, Tadepalle, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, on the southern bank of the Krishna River near Vijayawada. Notable for its monolithic reclining statue of Lord Vishnu carved from a single granite block, the four-storey cave complex exemplifies Gupta-style architecture and is maintained as a protected monument attracting pilgrims and visitors for its historical and religious importance.
Vivah Mada Cave is the largest rock-cut cave in the Mada Caves group located in Mada village, Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh. Carved into the Vindhya hills, it is part of a cluster of ancient caves dating to the 7th-8th century CE. Notable for its pillared hall, rock-cut chambers and architectural features, the cave is a significant example of early rock-cut architecture in central India and a key attraction within the Mada cave complex.