Sittannavasal

Tamil Nadu


About 16km northwest of Pudukkottai, this small Jain cave temple conceals magnificent vegetable-oil frescoes, which you’ll probably get to appreciate all by yourself. Note the Edenic garden paradise painted on the main ceiling, which includes fish, mythical sea monsters and beautiful water maidens. Or try making your ‘Om’ echo across an acoustic masterpiece of a meditation chamber, where statues of Jain saints sit cross-legged.

In the same complex, after climbing the rock face via 287 steep steps, you'll reach a tiny cliff-side cave with 17 rock-carved beds once slept in by Jain monks, allegedly as far back as the 1st century BC; access requires a separate ticket (Indian/foreigner ₹25/300).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Tamil Nadu attractions

1. Vijayalaya Cholisvaram

4.94 MILES

This small but stunning temple stands on a dramatically deserted rock slope 1km southwest of Narthamalai village (16km north of Pudukkottai). Reminiscent…

2. Pudukkottai Museum

6.79 MILES

The relics of Chettinadu's bygone days are on display at this wonderful museum, 4km north of Pudukkottai train station. Its eclectic collection includes…

3. Ayyanar Temple

8.54 MILES

Just 8km southwest of Pudukkottai, this is an outstanding village shrine dedicated to the pre-Hindu guardian-god Ayyanar, worshipped only in rural Tamil…

4. Thirumayam Fort

13.72 MILES

The most impressive things about this fort, 20km south of Pudukkottai, are the massive boulders it's built on – it's just a wall enclosing an area about…

5. CVCT and CVR House

18.89 MILES

Backed by the typical succession of pillar-lined courtyards, the impressive reception hall of this 'twin house' is shared by two branches of the same…

6. VVR House

18.96 MILES

One of Chettinadu's oldest mansions, built in 1870 with distinctive egg-plaster walls, Burmese-teak columns, patterned tiled floors and intricate wood…

7. Sri Mahalakshmi Handloom Weaving Centre

19.07 MILES

Chettinadu is known for its handwoven, contrasting-colour silk-and-cotton Kandaangi saris (now increasingly hard to find). At this small weaving complex,…

8. Athangudi Palace

20.03 MILES

With perhaps the most exquisitely painted wood-carved ceilings in Chettinadu, Athangudi Palace is a popular film set. Take in the especially fine…