Just 5km north of Mamallapuram, the Tiger Cave is an unfinished but impressive rock-cut shrine, probably dating from the 7th century and dedicated to Durga (a form of Devi, Shiva's wife). What's special is the 'necklace' of 11 monstrous tiger-like heads framing its central shrine-cavity. At the north end of the park-like complex is a rock-cut Shiva shrine from the same era. Beyond the fence lies the more recently excavated Subrahmanya Temple , comprising an 8th-century granite shrine built over a Sangam-era brick temple dedicated to Murugan, which is one of the oldest known temples in Tamil Nadu.
