Varaha Cave Templeवराह गुफा मंदिर

About Varaha Cave Temple

The Varaha Cave Temple, also called the Varaha Mandapa, is a small rock-cut shrine carved into the granite hill at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), on the Bay of Bengal coast about 55 km south of Chennai. It belongs to the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Though modest in size and easy to miss, it holds some of the finest relief sculptures of the Pallava period, and is a must for anyone interested in early South Indian art.

The cave dates from the 7th century, when the Pallava kings, especially Narasimhavarman I, who was called Mamalla, made this port town a centre of rock-cut art. The main panel tells the Puranic story of Vishnu's third avatar: when the demon Hiranyaksha dragged the earth into the cosmic ocean, Vishnu took the form of a mighty boar, Varaha, and raised the earth goddess Bhudevi on his tusk or in his arms. The Pallava sculptors show this moment with great tenderness. The cave is no longer used for regular worship and is cared for by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The front of the mandapa has two pillars and two pilasters rising from seated lions, a mark of the Pallava style, with cushion-shaped capitals. Inside, the walls carry large panels. Besides Varaha with Bhudevi, there is a calm Gajalakshmi seated on a lotus while elephants pour water over her, a striking image of Durga, and Vishnu as Trivikrama striding across the worlds. Two royal panels show Pallava kings with their queens. A small empty shrine cell is cut into the back wall, flanked by guardian figures. Nearby on the same hill are Arjuna's Penance and Krishna's Butter Ball.

Varaha Cave Temple timings

The hillside monuments are usually accessible from about sunrise to sunset. Times may vary; check locally before visiting.

Timings change on festivals, eclipses and special days. Please confirm locally before you travel.

How to reach Varaha Cave Temple

Festivals at Varaha Cave Temple

• Mamallapuram Dance FestivalDec/Jan
• PongalJan
• Masi Magam (at Sthalasayana Perumal Temple)Feb/Mar

Visitor tips

Dress code

No formal dress code; light, modest clothing and a hat are practical in the coastal heat.

Entry

The hillside caves are usually free to visit; the nearby Shore Temple and Five Rathas need an ASI entry ticket (separate rates for Indian and foreign visitors). Regular worship is not conducted in the cave.

• Visit early in the morning or late afternoon; the granite rocks get very hot at midday.
• Carry water and a hat; there is little shade on the hill.
• Combine the cave with Arjuna's Penance, Krishna's Butter Ball and the Shore Temple, all within walking distance.
• A torch or phone light helps to see the inner panels clearly.
• Do not touch or lean on the carvings.

Places to visit near Varaha Cave Temple

• Arjuna's PenanceGiant open-air relief carved on two boulders, about 0.3 km away
• Krishna's Butter BallHuge balancing boulder on the hill slope, about 0.3 km away
• Shore Temple8th-century Pallava temple by the sea, about 1 km away
• Pancha RathasFive monolithic temples named after the Pandavas, about 1.5 km away

Frequently asked questions