Tiger’s Cave, Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu India

Tiger’s Cave is a place where you can find rock cut temples and sculptures but not tigers or caves.

Tiger Cave, a name reportedly bestowed when a local dog chased a jaguar cub into the mouth of this amazing natural cavern many years ago, is located in the Toledo district in southern Belize.  The cave is also referred to as the San Miguel Cave because it is only a 1.5-hour walk from the Mayan village of San Miguel.

This nature walk, which requires a guide, is well worth taking, giving visitors the unique opportunity to learn about the diversity of the Toledo rainforest and a first-hand view of the Maya’s farming practices.

The massive, vaulted entrance into what appears to be a very dark cave lends a sense of adventure and anticipation to the tour, as does the need to squeeze through narrow, elevated corridors leading to a wide interior chamber. Large gaping holes in the ceiling of the cave soon give way to shafts of sunlight that reveal an amazing sight – 500-foot vaulted ceilings, interior chambers with dripping stalactites that resemble Roman fountains, and pure mineral deposits that look like pots of white gold.

Smooth, rain-washed indentations on the cave’s limestone floor and large numbers of broken pottery shards scattered on a ledge become visible as you travel onward into the cave. No streams or creeks run through the entrance chamber, although, deeper into the cave, you will have to cross water.

Tiger’s Cave is located in a village named Saluvankuppam, which is around 5 km from Mamallapuram towards the direction to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. You can reach this place easily either from Chennai or Mamallapuram, as this is located on East Coast Road (ECR), the road that connects Chennai and Mamallapuram. The distance of Tiger’s Cave from Chennai is approximately 52 kms.

Tiger’s Cave is a perfect picnic spot for Chennai people. You can laze around, climb small rocks and enjoy a breath of fresh air over here. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers and art lovers. If you visit Mamallapuram to see the popular Pallava sculptures belonging to 7th century AD, ensure that you visit Tiger’s Cave too.

Tiger’s Cave has got its name from a cave set apart among the rocks with a crown of carved tiger heads around the temple. In fact, it is a misnomer as you cannot find tiger’s figures but massive Yazhis (a mythological animal). You cannot find any deity in this temple which is believed to be dedicated to the goddess Durga. There are large and impressive figures located in front of the caves. The rock has carvings which tell some events related to the goddess Durga, and hence it is believed to be a temple of Durga. It is photographer’s delight to climb up this rock and pose for photographs.