What to expect
Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
A monolithic Pallava rock-cut cave shrine to Vishnu excavated under Mahendravarman I (c. 600-630 CE), whose inscription names it Mahendra-Vishnugriha. It is regarded as one of the earliest examples in the Pallava rock-cut tradition that later flowered at Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram, and is protected by the ASI.
Practical guide
Plan Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
Who's going?Tailor Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple to your trip
Typecave
Nearest baseNemili
DistrictRanipet
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier…
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryFree
Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple is planned from Nemili, one of the travel bases in Ranipet district. Use Nemili for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.
Getting there
How to visit
- Base yourself in Nemili or nearby in Ranipet, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
- If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Timing
Best time
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
Weather in Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave TempleSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
Sunrise6:01 am
Sunset6:24 pm
Golden hour best light5:24 pm–6:24 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:24 pm–6:49 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 279°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 83%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Tamil Nadu. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
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Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple — at a glance
TimingsDaylight hours, roughly 8am-5pm
Best timeOct-Feb best; hot Mar-Jun
Entry: Free (ASI-protected monument)
Getting here
How to reach Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
Mahendravadi railway station nearby; Arakkonam Junction ~12 km; nearest airport Chennai (MAA) ~95 km
Getting around Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple
heritageSomanatheeswarar Temple and Saptamatrika Sculptures, Thirumalaicheri 11.8 km · ~20 min by cab · straight line
heritageKottai Abhaya Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kaveripakkam 12.0 km · ~20 min by cab · straight line
heritageSri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Thiruparkadal 13.5 km · ~22 min by cab · straight line
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heritageKanja Sahib Tomb (Battle of Sholinghur memorial), Walajah 18.1 km · ~30 min by cab · straight line
On the map
Where Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple is
Good to know
Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple?
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
What are the entry fee and timings at Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple?
Entry: Free (ASI-protected monument). Timings: Daylight hours, roughly 8am-5pm.
How do I reach Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple?
Base yourself in Nemili or nearby in Ranipet, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
How much time do I need for Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple?
About an hour.
What else is near Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple?
Nearby you can pair Kaveripakkam Lake (11.4 km), Somanatheeswarar Temple and Saptamatrika Sculptures, Thirumalaicheri (11.8 km), Kottai Abhaya Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kaveripakkam (12.0 km), Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Thiruparkadal (13.5 km).
Read before you go
Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple itself yet. These cover Nemili, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Tamil Nadu-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Tamil Nadu.
Image credits
- Mahendravadi Rock-Cut Cave Temple:Narazu · CC BY-SA 3.0