Near Mahabalipuram, in the hamlet of Saluvankuppam, Tamil Nadu, lies the Tiger Cave, a rock-cut megalithic Hindu temple complex.

It is named after the eleven tiger heads carved upon the most important cave of the complex, believed to be one of the rock-cut temples built by the famous Pallavas, which were considered to have incredible craftsmanship skills.

 Scholars believe the images are more likely that of a mythological animal called a “yeli,” which is more like a cross between a lion and a tiger.

Other than the feline heads, one of Tiger Cave’s most popular features is actually a carving that depicts the Goddess Durga mounted atop one of these tigers

The enigmatic fact is that whoever built the temples had the ability to cut and move heavy portions of stone, some of which can still be found near Tiger Cave.

Moreover, the marks left on some of the megalithic blocks scattered around the structure are also very similar to the “square marks” easily spotted in many other megalithic sites throughout the globe, from South America to Egypt and Japan.

Less frequently visited is the rock-cut cave temple located at a corner of the complex, which presents a Shiva Linga and a Nandi.

Regardless, the secrets of Tiger Cave are continuously unfolding, like the 2005 discovery of a Temple that was found thanks to an overlooked inscription in the rocks that led to the revealing excavation.