The entire hillock housing the famous Vettuvan Koil and the Jain abode at Kazhugumalai is to be declared as ‘Protected Archaeological Monument’ of the Department of Archaeology.
It is known as ‘Ellora of Southern India’.
Vettuvan Koil of Thoothukudi that translates into ‘Sculptors’ Paradise,’ is a Pandya-era incomplete Hindu cave temple built between 8th and 9th century.
The carvings reflect the southern temple style of Pandya-era.
The rock-cut temple has 122 sculptures.
The Kazhugumalai Jain beds are rock relief sculptures dating back to 8th or 9th century with rock-cut images of ‘tirtankaras’.