These photos are of rock-cut Perumal and Sivan temple in Tirumayam, Pudukottai district, Tamilnadu. This temple was built in 1600's by nayaka kings of the region. The beauty of this temple is that it has both Siva and Vishnu sannathis and it is believed that Sivan temple is older than the Vishnu temple. Such an ancient treasure has been neglected for long by the government. Though this temple comes under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), a Government of India body that maintains and protects ancient temples of India, for past 50 years, it has been completely left for ruins.
Recently, ASI has recognised the uniqueness of this temple architecture. This is partly due to pressure on ASI from few well wishers of the temple and part luck. ASI has been spending quite a bit of resources for up-keep of the temple. Tourists from various part of Taminadu are visiting the temple.
Even though we knew this temple, as it is on the way to another temple we regularly visit, we never visited this temple. However, this time while we were driving to visit our regular temple, we were surprised by the activities around the temple. Out of curiosity, we visited this temple. We were supposed to be there only for 30Min's, but we were in the temple for almost 3 hours. I was awe-stuck by the rock carvings and Vishnu statue. I did not have any good camera with me, however I used my mobile phone camera to take few snaps of the temple. I have shared those snaps here.
