Kunnandarkoil Cave Temple, Hindu cave temple in Pudukkottai district, India
Kunnandarkoil Cave Temple is a rock-cut Hindu shrine in Pudukkottai district featuring three life-size sculptures of Shiva and detailed stone carvings. The complex includes a hundred-pillared hall and numerous carved stone columns throughout its chambers.
The Muttaraiyar rulers built this temple in the 8th century during Pallava rule and expanded it later under the Vijayanagar Empire. These construction phases show how different powers shaped the site across centuries.
The temple displays a blend of late Pallava and early Chola artistic styles that visitors can see in the carved details throughout the complex. Inscriptions from multiple South Indian dynasties show how different rulers contributed to its spiritual importance over time.
The temple faces east and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India while remaining open for worship and religious ceremonies. Visitors should approach the site with respect, as it is an active place of worship for the community.
Bronze artifacts discovered here represent some of the earliest examples of metal-working techniques in South Indian religious art. These finds offer rare insights into craftsmanship from a period when such skills were not yet widespread in the region.
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