Vettuvankovil Kazhugumalai

Vettuvankovil Kazhugumalai is an unfinished Shiva Temple excavated in a hill called Kazhugumalai. It is an east-facing temple located on the eastern side of the hill. The climb to the temple is from the west side through steps hewn out of the rock. Below the hill is a large pond and a Vinayaka temple on the slope. On the same hill is the famous Jain Beds with some excellent carvings. Vettuvankovil Kazhugumalai temple is carved out from a single rock in a rectangular portion measuring 7.5 m in depth. The temple’s top portion is finished while the bottom is unfinished. The granite rock of the temple looks like a blooming lotus, with hills surrounding it on three sides. The vimana has the attendant deities of Shiva, a unique rendering of Dakshinamurthy playing a Mridanga, Siva with his consort, dancers, Nandi, and animals like monkeys and lions. This is the only known example of a Pandya era monolithic temple that was carved out in three dimensions, on the site from the top of the hillock.