Chitharal Jain Monuments

The Chitharal Jain monuments occupy a hill above Chitharal village in Kanniyakumari district. They date from a period when Jainism was strong in South India, and Jain monks lived here in small natural caves well away from settled areas. The rock-cut shrine, cut into a natural cave, goes back to around the 9th century, and part of it was later given over to a Hindu goddess, so the two faiths share the site.

The temple has a pillared mandapa and three sanctums, and reliefs of Tirthankaras are carved on the rock and along the outer wall, together with Jain inscriptions. The goddess shrine also carries many inscriptions. Stone beds used by the ascetics can still be seen, and below the hill lies a pond with a heart-like outline. The inscriptions and carvings make the hill a favourite with visitors interested in history.