Vizhinjam a historic port city, is now a small port town in Kerala, is about 18 kms from the capital city Thiruvananthapuram and about two kms from the famous beach Kovalam. Vizhinjam rock-cut cave is just a few yards from the Vizhinjam junction and lies on the right side in the Vizhinjam beach road. The rock-cut cave complex is a spacious one with gateway in the east, fenced with iron railing and under the control of Archaeological Survey of India. On the western end of the complex, rocky outcrops are seen, in that, the rock-cut cave is excavated on the bigger rock boulder which is 3.5mts width and 3mts height. The rock-cut cave is cellar type, excavated on the eastern face of the rock boulder, however, remain incomplete. It seems the rock boulder is shaved on the sides, the scooped marks on the hillock and the chiseled blocks are seen scattered behind the hillock.
The rock-cut cave has a cell with a formed frontage. The plane frontage is reached in 30cms inside the sloppy rock face and 5cms above the existing ground level and formed to a width of 3.08mts and 1.60mts height. In that the aperture to the cell is formed in the middle to a height of 1.50mts and to the width of 0.90mts and the aperture is 22 cms above the existing ground level. In addition, on either side of the doorway niches are attempted and deities are depicted as bas-relief sculptures. Attempt of doorframe and pilasters flanking the entrance are seen.
The doorway to cell is flanked by plain brahmakantha pilasters, and the pilasters directly bear the uttira. The uttira is also seen extending on the southern side however, on the northern side it is formed in the northern end. Attempt of doorframe is seen, jambs are partially formed at the base. The cell is 1.10mts in the north-south direction, 0.75mts in the east west direction and 1.50mts height. The floor and roof of the cell is well formed, however, the side walls of the cell are coarse finishing, in addition, the back wall of the cell remain half done with patches of rock blocks remain un-cleared. The sanctum houses Lord Siva in the form of Vinadhara Dakshinamurti, however, it not rock-cut.
In the frontage, the niche on the southern side is .80mts width and 1.57mts height and houses Lord Siva in the form of Tiripurantaka. The God is standing with his right leg placed in sama and left leg lifted up and the toes are rested on the Muyalaga as like agratalasanchara. The God is depicted with four hands, the front left hand in kataka is holding the bow while the front right hand in ardhapataka is holding the arrow. The back left hand in kataka is holding mazhu, while the back right hand is in ardhapataka, but the object is not formed. The bow held by the God has a long stalk extending in the uttira in the top and to the neck of the gana seated at the foot of the God. The God is draped in very short attire, as like marauri aadai, and the locks are gathered as high matted jatamakuta, the elongated ears are adorned with patrakundala in the left and pootukundala in the right, charapali adorns the neck and kankanas in the arms. The yajnopavita is worn in nivitha fashion. In slim stature, standing in poise with head tilted to the right and the slight grin, shows a calm and composed look.
Muyalaka is seen expressive with his mouth wide open, attire, ornaments are not clear, however a bow like object is seen held by him. Adjacent to Muyalaka to his left, a gana is shown, but only the face is attempted. To the right of the God near His right foot a Gana is seen, as like the others only head is formed, however nothing detailed, the rest a profile formation is seen. It seems the Gana is holding a boomerang shaped object in his right hand, probably a sword.
The niche on the northern side is 1mt width and 1.56mts height, a profile formation of two figures are seen, in that the figure adjacent to the doorway is in dancing posture and the other one seems spectating the dance. For both, attire, ornaments are not formed, only a profile formation is seen. The dancer is in araimandi with his right leg in parsva while the left leg is behind the right leg and placed in agratalasancara. The left hand is in gaja hasta while the right hand is not clear. He is decked in makuta, patrakundala in the left ear and anklet in the right leg. His head is slightly tilted right as to the dancing gesture. Even though it is half done, the profile formation itself exhibits the elegance of dance. The figure standing next to the dancer is standing with right hand folded up to the chin and the left hand is placed on the hip. The panel probably Lord Siva in dancing form and spectated by the Goddess.
Lord Vinadhara Dakshinamurti is seated on a pitha in suhasana, locks are gathered in jatabhara, and draped in short attire, charapali, patrakundalas, keyura, kankanas and thazhseri are the ornaments decked by the God. The front hands are handling the vina, while the back hands in kartari mudra carry akshamala in the right and sula in the left. The attributes of the sculpture denotes its period not beyond 15 century C.E.
Inscriptions are absent in this rock-cut cave, location, architecture and sculptures are the basis to periodize, even though unfinished the attributes of the bas-relief sculptures exhibits early traits and denotes its period to 7th or 8th century C.E.