Famous small rock temples in Kerala

kaviyoor rock temple

Kaviyoor is a small village, located on Thiruvalla Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India.An ancient rock-cut temple “Kaviyoor Thrikkakkudi Cave Temple” is located here, carved on a huge rock and the carved rooms and sculptures are well-preserved. This Cave Temple is of historical importance and preserved as a monument by the Archaeological Department.It was constructed during the rule of the Pallava dynasty who reigned over South India from 608 to 850 AD.

Nearest town: Thiruvalla 8km (30 minutes to Kaviyoor rock temple) Kozhencherry 15 km, Changanacherry 20 km

Vizhinjam cave temple

Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave is the oldest rock-cut shrines of Kerala, dating back to the 8th century in the cave temple at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India.The granite cave encloses a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half-complete reliefs of the Hindu God Shiva with Goddess Parvathi.It is around 17 km from the Trivandrum.

Address:South of Kovalam junction, Vizhinjam 695521, India

The Cave Temple at Kottukal

Kottukkal cave temple also known as “Kaltrikkovil” in Malayalam, is a rock-cut architecture, built between 6th and 8th centuries CE. It is situated in the village of Kottukkal, near Anchal, Kollam district, Kerala, India.There are two caves of unequal size, both facing the east with the sculpture of main deity Ganapathy in between.The smaller cave has an idol of Hanuman and the larger one has a monolithic Nandi (bull) in it. Lord Shiva is also a deity in the temple in the form of a Shiva Ling.

Address:Manjappara Rd, Kottukkal, Kerala 691306, India

Madavoorpara

Madavoorpara rock cut cave temple is a granite hill which is situated in Thiruvananthapuram district.The temple which resembles the ancient cave temples of the Jains has an antiquity of around 1300 years.Thirteen steps carved on the same rock leads one to the square shaped temple.The temple was owned by the Chenkottukonam Ashram before being taken over by the state archaeology department of kerala in 1960.The main installation now is of Siva lingam mounted on a pedestal carved out of the rock.It is around 20 km from the Trivandrum city.