Distance: 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram, 55 km from Kanyakumari and 7 km from Marthandam.
Heard about this ancient jain monument earlier while I was googling and immediately put it in my wishlist. So when a holiday kicked in me along with my friend Sajith decided to take a spin. I am residing in Kollam, Kerala so the route is like Kollam-Attingal-Nedumangad-Aryanad-Vellarada-Kadayal-Chitharal. There are two dams en route, one is Neyyar dam from the Kerala side and Chittar dams from the Tamil Nadu side.
The dams are as usual scenic and the roads too but the main destination was the hill temple at Chitharal.
Chitharal is a small village near Marthandam, Kanyakumari. The place is famous for this ancient Jain monument, once the abode of Jain monks. It was built in 9th century AD(wiki) and is centrally protected under Archeological Survey of India.
About the monuments (wikipedia)
The Chitharal Jain Monuments are the ruins of a Jain training centre from the 9th century CE, on a small hill in Chitharal village, Kanyakumari district Tamil Nadu, which lies 7 km from Marthandam and 55 km from Kanyakumari.
Chitharal is historically known as Thirucharanathupalli – the abode of Jain monks belonging to the Digambara sect. It is famous for the hillock which has a cave containing rock-cut sculptures of Thirthankaras and attendant deities carved inside and outside dating back to the 9th century.
After riding some good distance and enjoying the dam sites finally reached the temple at around 5 in the evening.
The entrance to the temple is from the backside through a cave like passage followed by some steps leading to the temple. The temple complex is built in rock with three levels, a top level with a finely carved rock structure, middle level with sculptures of jain dieties and a bottom level with a pond.
There are many stone inscriptions dating back to 9th century(wiki). There's a pond too below the main temple building.
The panoramic views from the temple are mindblowing, there are huge rocks around where we can climb and enjoy the sceneries. Evening was indeed a perfect timing with the starting of sunset coupled with evening breeze. And another great speciality is that there won't be much visitors, so we can enjoy the place to the extreme.
Some random photos
So end of the story...:)
You can enjoy this beautiful ancient monument and admire ancient people's talents and witness some peaceful atmosphere once you get there. Surely it's worth the visit.
Distance: 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram, 55 km from Kanyakumari and 7 km from Marthandam.
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| Route map |
Heard about this ancient jain monument earlier while I was googling and immediately put it in my wishlist. So when a holiday kicked in me along with my friend Sajith decided to take a spin. I am residing in Kollam, Kerala so the route is like Kollam-Attingal-Nedumangad-Aryanad-Vellarada-Kadayal-Chitharal. There are two dams en route, one is Neyyar dam from the Kerala side and Chittar dams from the Tamil Nadu side.
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| At one end of Neyyar dam |
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| Neyyar dam |
 |
| This is Chittar dam reservoir |
The dams are as usual scenic and the roads too but the main destination was the hill temple at Chitharal.
Chitharal is a small village near Marthandam, Kanyakumari. The place is famous for this ancient Jain monument, once the abode of Jain monks. It was built in 9th century AD(wiki) and is centrally protected under Archeological Survey of India.
About the monuments (wikipedia)
The Chitharal Jain Monuments are the ruins of a Jain training centre from the 9th century CE, on a small hill in Chitharal village, Kanyakumari district Tamil Nadu, which lies 7 km from Marthandam and 55 km from Kanyakumari.
Chitharal is historically known as Thirucharanathupalli – the abode of Jain monks belonging to the Digambara sect. It is famous for the hillock which has a cave containing rock-cut sculptures of Thirthankaras and attendant deities carved inside and outside dating back to the 9th century.
After riding some good distance and enjoying the dam sites finally reached the temple at around 5 in the evening.
 |
| The path to the temple |
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| First glimpse of the temple |
The entrance to the temple is from the backside through a cave like passage followed by some steps leading to the temple. The temple complex is built in rock with three levels, a top level with a finely carved rock structure, middle level with sculptures of jain dieties and a bottom level with a pond.
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| Entrance of the temple |
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| Small cave like passage |
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| This structure lies in the top level |
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| Steps leading to the middle level |
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| A chamber with Jain sculptures |
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| Jain sculptures |
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| Front view |
There are many stone inscriptions dating back to 9th century(wiki). There's a pond too below the main temple building.
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| Inscriptions inscriptions..! |
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| You can see some malayalam letters. |
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| The pond. I wonder how water stays there! |
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| Experimental shots..:D |
The panoramic views from the temple are mindblowing, there are huge rocks around where we can climb and enjoy the sceneries. Evening was indeed a perfect timing with the starting of sunset coupled with evening breeze. And another great speciality is that there won't be much visitors, so we can enjoy the place to the extreme.
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| Ancient marvels..! |
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| Left Side of the temple |
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| A distant view |
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| It was closed at the moment. It opens once in a while. |
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| The whole temple. This image is a combination of four images shot from the same point. |
You can enjoy this beautiful ancient monument and admire ancient people's talents and witness some peaceful atmosphere once you get there. Surely it's worth the visit.
Distance: 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram, 55 km from Kanyakumari and 7 km from Marthandam.
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