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Early medieval · Hindu · India
Dalavanur Cave Temple
Dalavanur, Viluppuram district, Tamil Nadu · 12.1510°, 79.4785°
ShivaPallavaDravidian rock-cut
Sacred since
600 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
7th c. (Pallava)
Pallava
History & significance
A rock-cut cave temple between Gingee and Mandagapattu attributed to the 7th-century Pallava king Mahendravarman I and thought to have been dedicated to Shiva. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and is noted for its unusual inscriptions and for Jain rock beds cut above the cave.