Detail from the Mahishasuramardini Cave, one of the rock-cut cave temples within the ancient site of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Detail from a pillar of one of the mandapams (or mandapas), rock-cut cave temples within the ancient site of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Detail, Sri Meenakshi temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Detail, Sri Meenakshi temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Detail of Hindu carvings, Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Beautiful 7th century bas relief carved Arjuna's Penance rock, Mahaballipuram, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

The Great Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Asia

Woman with shaved head, Shiva devotee, dressed in red, outside 11th century Brihadisvara Cholan temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Detail of colourful Gopuram in Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Detail of Hindu carvings, Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Part of the beautiful 7th century bas relief sculpture in the Krishna cave temple, Mahaballipuram, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Balustrade, carved elephant and Shiva's chariot at entrance to Airavatesvara Temple built by Chola King Rajaraja II between 1146 and 1172 AD, at Darasuram, near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu state, India, Asia

The figure of Karthieya sits on Paravani the peacock at the Brihadeeswarar Temple (Big Temple) in Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

A Hindu sculpture gives the Namaste welcome at the Brihadeeswarar Temple (Big Temple) in Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Brihadishvara temple (The Big Temple), Thanjavur (Tanjore), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Shiva at the Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Tower of Kumbakonam temple, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Nyak, near Tiruchapali, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu state, India, Asia

Stone carving, Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tamil Nadu state, India, Asia

Carved gopuram of Pillayarpatti Ganesha Temple, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Detail of the roof of the temple of Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Mauritius, Tamil Temple Detail

Detail, Tamil Temple, Reunion

Tamil Temple Detail, Near Port Louis, Port Louis District, Mauritius

Bas reliefs in Hindue temple Brihadishwarar Temple Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Gopuram (tower) of Hindu temple Kapaleeshwarar Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Bas reliefs in Hindue temple Arunachaleswar Temple Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Roof detail of the Tamil Temple, Mauritius, Africa