Mamallapuram
Seaport of spirituality

Believed to be the world’s largest structure of its kind, inscribed on two monolithic boulders, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arjuna’s Penance (tapas) may be a bas-relief, measuring to 43 ft height and 100 ft length. it’s over 100 sculptures of gods, birds, beasts and saints. The relic depicts a scene from the epic Mahabharata, where Arjuna is praying hard and performing penance to Lord Shiva to ask him for his powerful and divine bow. it’s said that Arjuna needed this bow within the battle of Mahabharata to defeat the Kauravas. Another legend gives the location the name of descent of the Ganges, because it is believed to be the spot where king Bhagiratha performed penance and prayed to Lord Shiva, standing on one leg, to let River Ganges descend from heaven so he could gain salvation for his ancestors.

On the outskirts of Mamallapuram lies the DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum, a one-of-its-kind rarity in India. The museum was found out in 1996 for the promotion of the rich cultural heritage of South India, especially its art and crafts forms, through regular exhibitions, hands-on classes for the visitors, workshops on folk performances and textiles and performances by budding artists, dancers, sculptors, etc. Tourists can visit the crafts bazaar where artisans, craftsmen and NGOs from everywhere India hold beautiful exhibitions. DakshinaChitra is an amalgamation of art, craft, lifestyle, culture, architecture and humanistic discipline of South India. it’s 18 historic houses with exhibitions in all . Tourists should also look out for the striking houses that are a treat for architecture buffs.

The largest mandapam in Mamallapuram is devoted to Lord Krishna. Inside this mandapam, are bas-reliefs and carvings depicting scenes of village life from Govardhan, with special emphasis on pastoral life, including a shepherd milking a cow, a farmer carrying his child on his shoulder, a shepherdess with a rolled mat on her head, a young couple pictured beautifully, etc. the most important carving narrates the story of how Lord Krishna saved the village of Govardhan from Lord Indra’s wrath by carrying the whole mountain on his finger for nearly a whole week to guard the people and therefore the cattle, while it rained so severely that everything could have drowned. The Krishna Mandapam is situated right next to Arjuna’s Penance and shares an equivalent complex with the Ganesha Ratha and therefore the Krishna Butter Ball.

This immense boulder, about 16 ft high, is one among the prominent tourist sites in Mamallapuram. Defying gravity, the boulder is balanced precariously on a narrow base. it’s symbolic of Lord Krishna’s love for butter. consistent with legend, the boulder may be a representation of the quantity of butter that Lord Krishna wont to steal and eat. An old wives’ tale additionally tells that many kings under the Pallava dynasty with their army and elephants tried to maneuver the boulder but it might not budge an in. . The boulder features a breadth that nearly matches its height, and though it’s rounded at some angles, it’s not an ideal sphere. Today, it stands proudly as an attraction for all the visitors in Mamallapuram and leaves people confused with its logic-defying balance.

Located at the southern end of Mamallapuram Hill, Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple is noted for its reliefs that are intricately carved into walls. one among these depicts Lord Vishnu sleeping on top of the coils of the king of serpents, Adisesha, while another relief displays Goddess Durga, atop her lion, fighting with the demon Mahishasura. aside from these two bas-reliefs, the shrine within the centre of the temple holds an idol of Lord Murugan, seated between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Carved out of rocks, the temple depicts scenes from ancient Hindu epics, Puranas. The cave temple belongs to the 7th century, constructed under the Pallava dynasty (275 CE to 897 CE). The cave may be a testimony to the fine craftsmanship of the Vishwakarma sculptors of that point .

To enjoy spectacular views of sunsets and sunrises, head to Mamallapuram Beach, which spans 20 km. A pristine expanse of golden sand fringed by lush groves with a warm sun depending on benevolently, the beach may be a great place to soak in natural beauty. Take a stroll along the beach or enjoys various beach activities and water sports like surfing, windsurfing, quad bike rides, etc. one among the simplest surfing sites within the country, the beach has facilities of surfing lessons that are given by professionals. the ocean waves during the months of June and July are perfect for surfing and last until the top of September. Tourists also can visit the Pallava Beach, which lies a step from Mamallapuram Beach.

A recent addition to the splendour of Mamallapuram, this museum reflects the heritage of the Sangam era (5th century BCE- 3rd century CE). The museum displays rare stone exhibits like ornamental wheels, chains, utensils, etc., along side tools like chisels and mallets that were wont to produce them. There are over 200 of them. Most of the sculptures that are displayed at the museum are made up of granite. The Open-Air Museum is found nearby the Shore Temple and portrays the culture of Tamil Nadu alright . there’s also a gallery that displays images, sculptures, portraits, including granite works. a number of the sculptures displayed at the museum are made by students of the Mamallapuram College of Sculpting. A visit to the present one-of-its-kind museum provides tourists an opportunity to find out about the evolution of sculptural art within the state.

Another jewel within the Mamallapuram UNESCO World Heritage Site complex is that the Panchapandava Mandapam. one among the most important cave temples within the town, it had been built between the 7th and 8th centuries, under king Narasimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty. A fine example of rock-cut style architecture, this cave temple may be a rectangular structure supported by pillars. Its entrance is guarded by two seated lions and upon walking further, one can see lion bases on the columns of the verandah. Behind a couple of columns on the within ramp are hidden lions and elephants, and visitors can enjoy the challenge of spotting them out. The frontage of the cave has six lion-based pillars also , providing it an all-over royal look. There are intricate carvings on all of the walls within the cave, on the pillars, on the columns within the verandah, and therefore the rock-cut chambers, which bring interesting detailing.

Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shore Temple is that the oldest, free-standing temple within the vicinity of Mamallapuram. Belonging to the latter half the 7th century, it’s an ideal exhibit of Dravidian and Pallava architecture, built under the king Narasimhavarman II (695-722), with granite. Under an equivalent king, the temple acted as a particularly busy port for an extended duration. Within the temple, are three sanctums with shrines, two of which are dedicated to Lord Shiva and one dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Standing at the coast of the Bay of Bengal, the Shore Temple is merely one among a posh of seven that survived the Tsunami in 2004. albeit many of the carvings within the temple have eroded over time, the standard of the exquisite carvings can still be made out. The Shore Temple, two-towered, stands magnificently in rock-cut elegance and is surrounded by gardens and ruined courts. There are several other smaller shrines within the vicinity complementing this huge building.

Currently a neighborhood of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the Mamallapuram Complex, the Panch Rathas (five chariots) are five spectacular rock carvings, supported the characters of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The rock carvings stand at the southernmost end of Mamallapuram, a fine testimony to Dravidian architecture. They were built as samples of South Indian temples but since they were never consecrated, they weren’t used for worship. The five ratha temples belong to the Pandava brothers- Yudishthir, Bheema, Arjun, Nakul and Sahdeva, and their wife Draupadi- the Panchaali (five-husbanded). The Panch Rathas complex was built under Narsimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty a while between the 7th and 8th centuries. The temples are inbuilt the form of pagodas and appearance very almost like Buddhist shrines. The chariots of the Pandavas and Draupadi are amid statues of an elephant, a lion and Nandi bull, vehicles of Lord Indra, Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva, respectively.

While the name brings to mind a cave crammed with majestic tigers, it’s actually not the case. Tiger Caves may be a name bestowed upon a few of rock-cut temples, situated in Saluvankuppam, 5 km from Mahabalipuram. The name is taken from the cave temples that have a crown of carved heads of what seems like a tiger. it’s believed that the animal is really the mythological yali and therefore the spot is named Yali Mandapam. It makes for an excellent picnic spot and therefore the large rocks and sandy shores make it a haven for birds. Since its architecture seems like an open theatre, the place also hosts several cultural events. The cave is believed to be the spot where the Pallava king wont to address his people from.

Trimurti may be a triple-celled temple, dedicated to the Trinity of Hinduism, the three superpowers Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Situated at the northern end of the Mamallapuram Hill, slightly faraway from Krishna’s Butter Ball, one can visit this cave temple to witness the splendour of Pallava dynasty’s architecture. aside from the trinity, the backside of the rock cave is adorned with fine carvings of elephants. These caves are among the only a few in India which will be categorised as complete excavations. The three shrines of the cave temple are excavated on the western facade of a hill and there are different staircases to succeed in all the three shrines. The three shrines also are decorated with a group of intricately carved dvarpalas or gatekeepers.

The Varaha Cave Temple is understood for four exquisite carvings of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Gajalakshmi, Lord Trivikama (the fifth avatar of Lord Vishnu) and Goddess Durga. This hilltop temple has exquisite rock-cut formations that are a fine example of the sculpting work done by Vishwakarmas of that century. the foremost prominent sculpture is of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as a Varaha (boar), who is lifting Bhudevi (Mother Earth) out of the ocean to rescue her. Several other mythical characters are etched on the walls of this cave temple, along side ornate images of majestically seated lions. The outward-facing panels are graced by Goddesses Lakshmi and Durga. On the right-hand panel, upon entering the cave, one can see Lord Vishnu on an eight-armed giant form, called Trivikarma, within the act of killing the demon Mahabali. Dating back to the 7th century, this temple is additionally referred to as the Adhivaraha Cave Temple.