THRIKAKUDY CAVE TEMPLE, Kaviyur

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The so-called Thrikakudy Cave Temple represents an example of a man-made monolithic pit temple in the open air (note 1) and is famous for it's rock art, including 8th-century inscriptions that constitute some of Kerala's earliest. Two sculptured 'watchmen' guard the interior shrine with a centrally put up lingam. The site is managed by one Thiruvitamkur Devaswam Board and listed by the Archaeological Survey of India among monuments (note 2). SITUATION: At Kaviyoor (note 3), which lies a linear distance of 5 km ENE of Tiruvalla (note 4) and … on the road [from Allepey, Alapphuza, note 5] to Sabarimala [note 6] … To get there, take the Sabarimala bus and alight at the 5 km bus stand. From here you can walk the remaining 3 km to the temple or take a rikshaw. If you walk, follow the road directly opposite the bus stand. After about 2 km you'll pass a large Shiva temple. Turn right here (your only option) and about 500 m further on, the road will fork at a large fig tree near theNSS Training Institute. Take the right path and after another 500 m you'll see some large black rocks on the left. Follow the path at the side of the rocks for about 100 m to the temple (LONELY PLANET, Kerala 2000: 191-192).The so-called Thrikakudy Cave Temple represents an example of a man-made monolithic pit temple in the open air (note 1) and is famous for it's rock art, including 8th-century inscriptions that constitute some of Kerala's earliest. Two sculptured 'watchmen' guard the interior shrine with a centrally put up lingam. The site is managed by one Thiruvitamkur Devaswam Board and listed by the Archaeological Survey of India among monuments (note 2). SITUATION: At Kaviyoor (note 3), which lies a linear distance of 5 km ENE of Tiruvalla (note 4) and … on the road [from Allepey, Alapphuza, note 5] to Sabarimala [note 6] … To get there, take the Sabarimala bus and alight at the 5 km bus stand. From here you can walk the remaining 3 km to the temple or take a rikshaw. If you walk, follow the road directly opposite the bus stand. After about 2 km you'll pass a large Shiva temple. Turn right here (your only option) and about 500 m further on, the road will fork at a large fig tree near theNSS Training Institute. Take the right path and after another 500 m you'll see some large black rocks on the left. Follow the path at the side of the rocks for about 100 m to the temple (LONELY PLANET, Kerala 2000: 191-192).