A series of remarkable rock-cut temples were built between the 7th and 9th centuries by the Pallavas in the Tondaimandalam region, around their capital Kanchipuram. These temples along with a similar group commissioned by the Chalukyas of Badami represent the earliest Hindu stone temples in southern India. They were also a significant architectural innovation as the first cave-temples in South India to be carved out of hard, granite rock. Earlier rock cut shrines, mostly Buddhist, were excavated into the softer rock in the Deccan.

Thirumurthy Temple
This is the first Pallava rock-cut temple, built by Mahendra I in the early 7th century. An inscription on the temple calls it the Laksitayatna and dedicates it to Brahma, Isvara, and Vishnu. The facade of the rectangular mandapa has four massive pillars and is flanked by niches containing large dvarpalaka images carved in relief. The images are shown wearing tall headgear and standing in dvibhanga, leaning on a massive club entwined by a serpent. Steps on the right lead to an uncovered porch in front of the mandapa.
 
The pillars of the mandapa facade have square bases, octagonal central sections and square capitals with curved corbels. Inside, another row of similar pillars divides the mandapa into three aisles. The aisles lead to the Trimurti shrines, deep plain niches cut into the rear wall.