Archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology have identified a previously unrecorded rock-cut cave temple in the hillocks near Thoothukudi. Attributed to the Early Pandyan era, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and features remarkably well-preserved carvings of Gandharvas and Apsaras in celestial processions. The architectural style bridges the gap between the simpler rock-cut shrines of the 7th century and the more elaborate structural temples of the later medieval period.
The cave's interior houses a monolithic Shivalinga and a unique panel depicting the marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar. Preliminary analysis of the inscriptions suggests the temple was commissioned by a local chieftain during the reign of Varaguna I, providing new insights into the regional political landscape of 9th-century South India.