Tirumalai Jain Complex

Tirumalai, the holy mountain, is a Jain complex of caves and temples northwest of Polur in Tiruvannamalai district, in use since at least the 9th century CE. It has been an important Jain centre for a very long time; tradition says 8,000 monks who travelled with Bhadrabahu performed penance here, and footprints of four great teachers are kept on the hill. A large cavern at the base was divided in the 10th century into some 30 chambers, perhaps to hold images.

The complex includes three caves and two temples. The Kunthavai Jinalaya, commissioned in the 10th century by the Chola princess Kundavai, is partly cut into the rock and rich in relief carving; an inscription of 1024 CE lists the conquests of Rajendra Chola I and his gifts to it. On the hilltop stands a 4.95-metre image of the tirthankara Neminatha, probably carved in the 12th century and the tallest Jain image in Tamil Nadu.