List of rock-cut monuments in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has a large number of Rock-cut monuments, including cave temples, mandapas, and shrines carved directly into natural rock formations. The state is home to at least 107 known rock-cut monuments.[1][2] These monuments date mainly from the early historic and medieval periods and are associated with dynasties such as the Pallavas and Pandyas.[3] They represent important developments in Dravidian architecture and religious traditions including Hinduism and Jainism .[4][5][6]

S.No Name Location District Coordinates
1 Pallavaram Dargha Pallavaram Hill Chengalpattu 12°58′17″N 80°9′38″E / 12.97139°N 80.16056°E / 12.97139; 80.16056 (Pallavaram Dargha)
2 Karivaradharaja Perumal Temple (Vallam – 1) Vallam Chengalpattu 12°40′53″N 79°59′46″E / 12.68139°N 79.99611°E / 12.68139; 79.99611 (Karivaradharaja Perumal Temple)
3 Vethantheeswarar Temple (Vallam – 2) Vallam Chengalpattu 12°40′54″N 79°59′46″E / 12.68167°N 79.99611°E / 12.68167; 79.99611 (Vethantheeswarar Temple)
4 Vallam – 3 Vallam Chengalpattu 12°40′54″N 79°59′46″E / 12.68167°N 79.99611°E / 12.68167; 79.99611 (Vallam Rock-cut Cave)
5 Padalathri Narasimhar Temple Singaperumal Koil Chengalpattu 12°45′37″N 80°0′15″E / 12.76028°N 80.00417°E / 12.76028; 80.00417 (Padalathri Narasimhar Temple)
6 Rock-cut Cave opposite Ramanujar Mandabam (Unfinished) Mamallapuram Chengalpattu
7 Lighthouse Rock-cut Cave (Unfinished) Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°36′55″N 80°11′31″E / 12.61528°N 80.19194°E / 12.61528; 80.19194 (Lighthouse Rock-cut Cave)
8 Puliputhar Mandabam Rock-cut Cave Mamallapuram Chengalpattu
9 Koneri Mandabam – 1 Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°37′8″N 80°11′28″E / 12.61889°N 80.19111°E / 12.61889; 80.19111 (Koneri Mandabam 1)
10 Koneri Mandabam – 2 Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°37′7″N 80°11′28″E / 12.61861°N 80.19111°E / 12.61861; 80.19111 (Koneri Mandabam 2)
11 Panchapandava Cave Temple Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°37′4″N 80°11′33″E / 12.61778°N 80.19250°E / 12.61778; 80.19250 (Panchapandava Cave Temple)
12 Dharmaraja Mandapam Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°36′53″N 80°11′30″E / 12.61472°N 80.19167°E / 12.61472; 80.19167 (Dharmaraja Mandapam)
13 Kotravai (Kodikkal) Rock-cut Cave Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°37′11″N 80°11′32″E / 12.61972°N 80.19222°E / 12.61972; 80.19222 (Kotravai Rock-cut Cave)
14 Ramanuja Mandapam Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°36′59″N 80°11′31″E / 12.61639°N 80.19194°E / 12.61639; 80.19194 (Ramanuja Mandapam)
15 Mahishamardini Rock-cut Cave Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°36′54″N 80°11′29″E / 12.61500°N 80.19139°E / 12.61500; 80.19139 (Mahishamardini Rock-cut Cave)
16 Trimurti Rock-cut Cave Temple Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°37′11″N 80°11′34″E / 12.61972°N 80.19278°E / 12.61972; 80.19278 (Trimurti Rock-cut Cave Temple)
17 Varaha Cave Temple Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°37′5″N 80°11′32″E / 12.61806°N 80.19222°E / 12.61806; 80.19222 (Varaha Cave Temple)
18 Peruvarahar Rock-cut Cave (Adivaraha cave temple) Mamallapuram Chengalpattu 12°36′51.825″N 80°11′26.060″E / 12.61439583°N 80.19057222°E / 12.61439583; 80.19057222 (Peruvarahar Rock-cut Cave)
19 Orukkal Mandapam Tirukalukundram Chengalpattu 12°36′35″N 80°3′34″E / 12.60972°N 80.05944°E / 12.60972; 80.05944 (Orukkal Mandapam)
20 Atiranachanda Cave Temple Saluvankuppam Chengalpattu 12°39′28″N 80°12′35″E / 12.65778°N 80.20972°E / 12.65778; 80.20972 (Atiranachanda Cave Temple)
21 Yali Mandabam Saluvankuppam Chengalpattu 12°39′21.36″N 80°12′32.599″E / 12.6559333°N 80.20905528°E / 12.6559333; 80.20905528 (Yali Mandabam (Tiger Cave))
22 Rock-cut Cave (Unfinished) Koothampoondiyanvalasu Dindigul 10°34′1″N 77°36′49″E / 10.56694°N 77.61361°E / 10.56694; 77.61361 (Koothampoondiyanvalasu Rock-cut Cave)
23 Kalyana Venkataramanaswamy Temple (Thanthoni – 1) Thanthoni Karur 10°56′14″N 78°5′23″E / 10.93722°N 78.08972°E / 10.93722; 78.08972 (Kalyana Venkataramanaswamy Temple)
24 Thanthoni – 2 Thanthoni Karur
25 Thirunanthikarai Rock-cut Shiva Temple Thirunanthikarai Kanyakumari 8°23′55″N 77°17′52″E / 8.39861°N 77.29778°E / 8.39861; 77.29778 (Thirunanthikarai Rock-cut Shiva Temple)
26 Bhoothalingaswamy Temple Boothapandi Kanyakumari 8°15′48″N 77°26′56″E / 8.26333°N 77.44889°E / 8.26333; 77.44889 (Boothalinga Swamy Temple)
27 Auvai Raman Temple Kurathiarai Kanyakumari 8°17′53″N 77°26′56″E / 8.29806°N 77.44889°E / 8.29806; 77.44889 (Auvai Raman Temple)
28 Sivagiri Mahadevar Temple Alwarkoyil Kanyakumari 8°13′0″N 77°19′19″E / 8.21667°N 77.32194°E / 8.21667; 77.32194 (Sivagiri Mahadevar Temple)
29 Rock-cut Siva Cave Temple Arittapatti Madurai 10°2′25″N 78°16′34″E / 10.04028°N 78.27611°E / 10.04028; 78.27611 (Arittapatti Rock-cut Cave Temple)
30 Rock-cut Cave (Unfinished) Mangulam Madurai 10°1′30″N 78°14′33″E / 10.02500°N 78.24250°E / 10.02500; 78.24250 (Mangulam Rock-cut Cave)
31 Udhayagiriwarar Temple Kunnathur Madurai 9°54′14″N 78°15′15″E / 9.90389°N 78.25417°E / 9.90389; 78.25417 (Udhayagiriwarar Temple)
32 Asthagiriswarar Temple Kunnathur Madurai 9°54′12″N 78°15′7″E / 9.90333°N 78.25194°E / 9.90333; 78.25194 (Asthagiriswarar Temple)
33 Neelakanteswarar Temple Kunnathur Madurai 9°54′9″N 78°14′53″E / 9.90250°N 78.24806°E / 9.90250; 78.24806 (Neelakanteswarar Temple)
34 Ladan Rock-cut Cave Temple Othakadai Madurai 9°57′59″N 78°11′21″E / 9.96639°N 78.18917°E / 9.96639; 78.18917 (Ladan Rock-cut Cave Temple)
35 Narasingam Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple Othakadai Madurai 9°57′59″N 78°11′21″E / 9.96639°N 78.18917°E / 9.96639; 78.18917 (Narasingam Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple)
36 Thirupparankundram Rock-cut Cave Thirupparankundram Madurai 9°52′27″N 78°4′15″E / 9.87417°N 78.07083°E / 9.87417; 78.07083 (Thirupparankundram Rock-cut Cave)
37 Subramaniya Swamy Temple Thirupparankundram Madurai 9°52′45″N 78°4′16″E / 9.87917°N 78.07111°E / 9.87917; 78.07111 (Subramaniya Swamy Temple)
38 Narasimhaswamy Temple Namakkal Namakkal 11°13′20″N 78°9′52″E / 11.22222°N 78.16444°E / 11.22222; 78.16444 (Narasimhaswamy Temple Namakkal)
39 Ranganatha Perumal Temple Namakkal Namakkal 11°13′23″N 78°9′57″E / 11.22306°N 78.16583°E / 11.22306; 78.16583 (Ranganatha Perumal Temple Namakkal)
40 Rock-cut Shiva Cave Temple – 1 Kunnandarkoil Pudukkottai 10°34′56″N 78°53′52″E / 10.58222°N 78.89778°E / 10.58222; 78.89778 (Kunnandarkoil Rock-cut Cave 1)
41 Rock-cut Shiva Cave Temple – 2 Kunnandarkoil Pudukkottai
42 Rock-cut Shiva Cave Temple – 3 Kunnandarkoil Pudukkottai
43 Olipathi Vishnu Griham Malayadipatti Pudukkottai 10°39′15″N 78°53′49″E / 10.65417°N 78.89694°E / 10.65417; 78.89694 (Olipathi Vishnu Griham)
44 Rock-cut Cave Shiva Temple Malayadipatti Pudukkottai 10°39′15″N 78°53′48″E / 10.65417°N 78.89667°E / 10.65417; 78.89667 (Malayadipatti Rock-cut Shiva Temple)
45 Padhinen Bhumi Vinnagaram (Rock-cut Vishnu Temple) Narthamalai Pudukkottai 10°30′18″N 78°45′27″E / 10.50500°N 78.75750°E / 10.50500; 78.75750 (Padhinen Bhumi Vinnagaram)
46 Palyyili Eswaram (Rock-cut Shiva Temple) Narthamalai Pudukkottai 10°30′17″N 78°45′27″E / 10.50472°N 78.75750°E / 10.50472; 78.75750 (Palyyili Eswaram)
47 Pushpavaneswarar Temple Poovalakudi Pudukkottai 10°20′2″N 78°37′32″E / 10.33389°N 78.62556°E / 10.33389; 78.62556 (Pushpavaneswarar Temple)
48 Sathyagirisvarar Temple Thirumayam Pudukkottai 10°14′49″N 78°45′6″E / 10.24694°N 78.75167°E / 10.24694; 78.75167 (Sathyagirisvarar Temple)
49 Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple Thirumayam Pudukkottai 10°14′48″N 78°45′7″E / 10.24667°N 78.75194°E / 10.24667; 78.75194 (Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple)
50 Rock-cut Shiva Temple Thirumayam Pudukkottai 10°14′51″N 78°45′3″E / 10.24750°N 78.75083°E / 10.24750; 78.75083 (Thirumayam Rock-cut Shiva Temple)
51 Kokarneswarar Temple Thirukokarnam Pudukkottai 10°23′31″N 78°48′2″E / 10.39194°N 78.80056°E / 10.39194; 78.80056 (Kokarneswarar Temple)
52 Rock-cut Cave Siva Temple Devar Malai Pudukkottai 10°21′13″N 78°44′15″E / 10.35361°N 78.73750°E / 10.35361; 78.73750 (Devar Malai Rock-cut Cave)
53 Seevaramudiyaar Rock-cut Cave Temple Malayakkoyil Pudukkottai 10°20′8″N 78°42′46″E / 10.33556°N 78.71278°E / 10.33556; 78.71278 (Seevaramudiyaar Rock-cut Cave Temple)
54 Thiruvarul Kaleesvarar Subramanaswamy Temple Malayakkoyil Pudukkottai 10°20′8″N 78°42′45″E / 10.33556°N 78.71250°E / 10.33556; 78.71250 (Thiruvarul Kaleesvarar Temple)
55 MalaiKoluntheeswarar Temple Ayingudi Pudukkottai 10°14′22″N 78°48′29″E / 10.23944°N 78.80806°E / 10.23944; 78.80806 (MalaiKoluntheeswarar Temple Ayingudi)
56 Rock-cut Cave Shiva Temple Kulalakkottaiyur Pudukkottai 10°15′3″N 78°47′50″E / 10.25083°N 78.79722°E / 10.25083; 78.79722 (Kulalakkottaiyur Rock-cut Cave)
57 Arivar Koil Sittanavasal Pudukkottai 10°27′21″N 78°43′31″E / 10.45583°N 78.72528°E / 10.45583; 78.72528 (Arivar Koil Sittanavasal)
58 Rock-cut Cave Temple Mangudi Pudukkottai 10°24′52″N 78°42′54″E / 10.41444°N 78.71500°E / 10.41444; 78.71500 (Mangudi Rock-cut Cave)
59 Melakovil Rock-cut Cave Temple Kudumiyanmalai Pudukkottai 10°24′59″N 78°39′31″E / 10.41639°N 78.65861°E / 10.41639; 78.65861 (Melakovil Rock-cut Cave Temple)
60 Mahendravadi rock cut temple (Mahendra Vishnu Griham) Mahendravadi Ranipet 12°59′22″N 79°32′30″E / 12.98944°N 79.54167°E / 12.98944; 79.54167 (Mahendravadi Rock-cut Temple)
61 Pallava Rock-cut Cave Vilapakkam Ranipet 12°51′57″N 79°16′47″E / 12.86583°N 79.27972°E / 12.86583; 79.27972 (Vilapakkam Rock-cut Cave)
62 Karpaka Vinayakar Temple Pillayarpatti Sivaganga 10°7′9″N 78°40′3″E / 10.11917°N 78.66750°E / 10.11917; 78.66750 (Karpaka Vinayakar Temple)
63 Rock-cut Cave Siva Temple Mahibalanpatti Sivaganga 10°11′19″N 78°33′52″E / 10.18861°N 78.56444°E / 10.18861; 78.56444 (Mahibalanpatti Rock-cut Cave)
64 Rock-cut Siva Cave Temple, Kundrakudi – 1 Kundrakudi Sivaganga 10°6′52″N 78°41′55″E / 10.11444°N 78.69861°E / 10.11444; 78.69861 (Kundrakudi Rock-cut Cave 1)
65 Rock-cut Siva Cave Temple, Kundrakudi – 2 Kundrakudi Sivaganga
66 Rock-cut Siva Cave Temple, Kundrakudi – 3 Kundrakudi Sivaganga
67 Kodunkundreeswar Temple Piranmalai Sivaganga 10°14′20″N 78°26′22″E / 10.23889°N 78.43944°E / 10.23889; 78.43944 (Kodunkundreeswar Temple)
68 Kagholapureeswarar Temple Thirukolakudi Sivaganga 10°15′25″N 78°37′39″E / 10.25694°N 78.62750°E / 10.25694; 78.62750 (Kagholapureeswarar Temple)
69 Rock-cut Siva Cave Temple Aralipatti Sivaganga 10°10′20″N 78°29′53″E / 10.17222°N 78.49806°E / 10.17222; 78.49806 (Aralipatti Rock-cut Cave)
70 MalaiKoluntheeswarar Temple Thirumalai Sivaganga 9°59′25″N 78°28′16″E / 9.99028°N 78.47111°E / 9.99028; 78.47111 (MalaiKoluntheeswarar Temple Thirumalai)
71 Courtallam Rock-cut Cave Courtallam Tenkasi
72 Rock-cut Cave Temple Malayadikkurichi Tenkasi 9°12′21″N 77°25′57″E / 9.20583°N 77.43250°E / 9.20583; 77.43250 (Malayadikkurichi Rock-cut Cave)
73 Kailasanathar Temple Veerasigamani Tenkasi 9°5′53″N 77°26′19″E / 9.09806°N 77.43861°E / 9.09806; 77.43861 (Kailasanathar Temple Veerasigamani)
74 Pasupatheswarar Temple Tirumalapuram Tenkasi 9°4′31″N 77°24′28″E / 9.07528°N 77.40778°E / 9.07528; 77.40778 (Pasupatheswarar Temple)
75 Rock-cut Cave (Unfinished) Tirumalapuram Tenkasi 9°4′31″N 77°24′29″E / 9.07528°N 77.40806°E / 9.07528; 77.40806 (Tirumalapuram Rock-cut Cave)
76 Yoga Dhatchinaamoorthy Temple Anaiyoor Tenkasi 9°12′38″N 77°30′48″E / 9.21056°N 77.51333°E / 9.21056; 77.51333 (Yoga Dhatchinaamoorthy Temple)
77 Rock-cut Cave Temple Sokkampatti Tenkasi 9°7′55″N 77°19′1″E / 9.13194°N 77.31694°E / 9.13194; 77.31694 (Sokkampatti Rock-cut Cave)
78 Valli Rock-cut Cave Thiruchendur Thoothukudi 8°29′50″N 78°7′48″E / 8.49722°N 78.13000°E / 8.49722; 78.13000 (Valli Rock-cut Cave)
79 Xavier Rock-cut Cave Manapad Thoothukudi 8°22′25″N 78°4′4″E / 8.37361°N 78.06778°E / 8.37361; 78.06778 (Xavier Rock-cut Cave)
80 Vettuvan Koil Kalugumalai Thoothukudi 9°9′11″N 77°42′16″E / 9.15306°N 77.70444°E / 9.15306; 77.70444 (Vettuvan Koil)
81 Kalugasalamoorthy temple Kalugumalai Thoothukudi 9°8′57.94″N 77°42′12.23″E / 9.1494278°N 77.7033972°E / 9.1494278; 77.7033972 (Kalugasalamoorthy temple)
82 Lalitankura Pallavesvara Griham (Trichy Upper Cave) Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort Tiruchirappalli 10°49′42″N 78°41′49″E / 10.82833°N 78.69694°E / 10.82833; 78.69694 (Trichy Upper Cave)
83 Trichy Lower Cave Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort Tiruchirappalli 10°49′40″N 78°41′47″E / 10.82778°N 78.69639°E / 10.82778; 78.69639 (Trichy Lower Cave)
84 Neelivaneswarar Temple Thiruppaigngneeli Tiruchirappalli 10°56′9″N 78°38′30″E / 10.93583°N 78.64167°E / 10.93583; 78.64167 (Neelivaneswarar Temple)
85 Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple Thiruvallarai Tiruchirappalli 10°57′20″N 78°40′4″E / 10.95556°N 78.66778°E / 10.95556; 78.66778 (Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple)
86 Vada Jambunathar Temple Thiruvellarai Tiruchirappalli 10°57′22″N 78°40′22″E / 10.95611°N 78.67278°E / 10.95611; 78.67278 (Vada Jambunathar Temple)
87 Andichiparai Rock Cut Cave Temple Pathinalamperi Tirunelveli 8°49′20″N 77°47′31″E / 8.82222°N 77.79194°E / 8.82222; 77.79194 (Andichiparai Rock Cut Cave Temple)
88 Subramanya Swamy Temple Valliyur Tirunelveli 8°22′49.35″N 77°36′53.09″E / 8.3803750°N 77.6147472°E / 8.3803750; 77.6147472 (Subramanya Swamy Temple)
89 Mamandur – 1 Narasamangalam Tiruvannamalai 12°44′27″N 79°39′54″E / 12.74083°N 79.66500°E / 12.74083; 79.66500 (Mamandur Rock-cut Cave 1)
90 Mamandur – 2 Narasamangalam Tiruvannamalai 12°44′39″N 79°39′57″E / 12.74417°N 79.66583°E / 12.74417; 79.66583 (Mamandur Rock-cut Cave 2)
91 Mamandur – 3 Narasamangalam Tiruvannamalai 12°44′30″N 79°39′56″E / 12.74167°N 79.66556°E / 12.74167; 79.66556 (Mamandur Rock-cut Cave 3)
92 Mamandur – 4 Narasamangalam Tiruvannamalai 12°44′27″N 79°39′56″E / 12.74083°N 79.66556°E / 12.74083; 79.66556 (Mamandur Rock-cut Cave 4)
93 Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple Seeyamangalam Tiruvannamalai 12°25′53″N 79°27′57″E / 12.43139°N 79.46583°E / 12.43139; 79.46583 (Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple)
94 Kal Mandagathu Alwar Kuranganilmuttam Tiruvannamalai 12°46′4″N 79°41′33″E / 12.76778°N 79.69250°E / 12.76778; 79.69250 (Kal Mandagathu Alwar)
95 Guhai Varadaraja Perumal Temple Avur Tiruvannamalai 12°7′50″N 79°12′16″E / 12.13056°N 79.20444°E / 12.13056; 79.20444 (Guhai Varadaraja Perumal Temple)
96 Rock-cut Cave (Unfinished) Thirakoil Tiruvannamalai 12°27′5″N 79°29′52″E / 12.45139°N 79.49778°E / 12.45139; 79.49778 (Thirakoil Rock-cut Cave)
97 Ninra Narayana Perumal temple Thiruthangal Virudhunagar 9°28′55″N 77°48′41″E / 9.48194°N 77.81139°E / 9.48194; 77.81139 (Ninra Narayana Perumal Temple)
98 Velliyambalanathar Temple Paraikulam Virudhunagar 9°32′2″N 78°10′56″E / 9.53389°N 78.18222°E / 9.53389; 78.18222 (Velliyambalanathar Temple)
99 Rock-cut Cave Temple Sevalpatti Virudhunagar 9°18′25″N 77°42′52″E / 9.30694°N 77.71444°E / 9.30694; 77.71444 (Sevalpatti Rock-cut Cave)
100 MalaiKoluntheeswarar Temple Moovaraivendran Virudhunagar 9°37′22″N 77°43′2″E / 9.62278°N 77.71722°E / 9.62278; 77.71722 (MalaiKoluntheeswarar Temple Moovaraivendran)
101 Rock-cut Siva Cave Temple M. Pudhupatti Virudhunagar 9°32′54″N 77°46′53″E / 9.54833°N 77.78139°E / 9.54833; 77.78139 (M Pudhupatti Rock-cut Cave)
102 Lakshitha Yathanam Mandagapattu Viluppuram 12°6′28″N 79°27′24″E / 12.10778°N 79.45667°E / 12.10778; 79.45667 (Lakshitha Yathanam)
103 Sathrumalleswaram Rockcut Temple Dhalavanur Viluppuram 12°10′0″N 79°28′7″E / 12.16667°N 79.46861°E / 12.16667; 79.46861 (Sathrumalleswaram Rock-cut Temple)
104 Sikhari Pallaveshvaram Temple Melacheri Viluppuram 12°17′18″N 79°23′43″E / 12.28833°N 79.39528°E / 12.28833; 79.39528 (Sikhari Pallaveshvaram Temple)
105 Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple Singavaram Viluppuram 12°16′34″N 79°23′55″E / 12.27611°N 79.39861°E / 12.27611; 79.39861 (Singavaram Ranganatha Temple)
106 Pallava Rock-cut Cave Kilmavilangai Viluppuram 12°19′34″N 79°36′21″E / 12.32611°N 79.60583°E / 12.32611; 79.60583 (Kilmavilangai Rock-cut Cave)
107 Pandava Cave Temple Arakandanallur Viluppuram 11°58′25″N 79°13′14″E / 11.97361°N 79.22056°E / 11.97361; 79.22056 (Pandava Cave Temple)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Bringing the past to the present". The Hindu. June 12, 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ^ Michell, George (1988). The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226532301.
  3. ^ Srinivasan, K.R. (1964). Cave Temples of the Pallavas. Archaeological Survey of India.
  4. ^ "Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  5. ^ "TVU". www.tamilvu.org.
  6. ^ "தமிழ் இணைய நூலகம்". தமிழ் இணைய நூலகம்.

Sources

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