In the dark womb of a Rock hill , a stunner !
Melakkovil or Thiru Mer(t)rali The sprawling complex of the The Kudumiyanmalai Temple ( Shikhanathaswami), situated at the foot hill of a large bald rocky outcrop , is made up of two parts . The medieval structure in the front and the more ancient rock cut shrine at the back , demarcated by a wall , with a locked door . An ASI guard holds the key to unlock this wing , called Melakkovil , which seems to be menaced by honeybees . The neatly angled garbhagriha , the large lingam and the ardhamantapa are all cut into the rock, in situ , at the foot of the rock hill . It is thought to be a Pandyan structure of early 7 thCentury , though a Pallava connection ,through the agency of their feudatory Muttharayars , is also suspected by some . The rockcut shrine is fronted by a Chozha mahamatapa put up by Kulotthunga ( in 11 CE ) and a mukhamantapa by Raghunatharaya Tondaiman ( of Pudukottai ) in 17 CE . The midday ligh...