Mahabalipuram

Located some 55km from Chennai is Mammalapuram or Mahabalipuram, a small coastal town designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. Renowned for its shore temples and rock-cut art, Mahabalipuram was the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram who ruled in the 8th -9th century.

Said to be named after either the demon king Mahabali, or the Pallava king Mamalla, Mahabalipuram was once a 7th century port city but the place is now more known throughout the world for its beautiful cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted bas-reliefs and structural temples considered to be one of the finest specimens of South Indian Temple architecture.

Built during the reigns of the Pallava King Narasimhavarman and his successor Rajasimhavarman, the rocks cut temples of Mamallapuram, showcase the movement from rock-cut architecture to structural building and represent both Dravidian as well as Buddhist style of architecture especially in the designs of the mandapas. Most of these temples dating back to the seventh century are said to be hewn from solid blocks of granite by adroit sculptors and artisans brought by Narasimhavarman as 'spoils of war' following his victory in AD 642 over the Chalukyan king Pulakesin II.

Some important structures include :

• Mandapas like the Ganesh mandapa, Krishna Mandapa and Arjuna’s Penance are bas-relief sculpture extolling stories from Hindu mythology by portraying the legends as well detailed description of gods, animals, birds and insects.
• The Shore Temple - A structural temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, the Shore Temple is the earliest known example of a stone-built temple in South India. Built entirely of granite blocks, the Shore Temple is said to have influenced the architecture of the Cholas, who succeeded the Pallavas as the dominant dynasty of Tamil Nadu. Built during the reign of the Pallava King Rajasimha (c. 700 - 728), the Temple location just near the e Bay of Bengal has resulted in considerable erosion of the temple's superstructure.
• Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. The Ratha of Dharmaraja Yudhishtra is the largest while that of Draupadi is the smallest and unlike the ratha of Dharmaraja which is modelled on a Buddhist vihara or monastery and sports a square hall topped by a vaulting roof, the ratha of Draupadi is a simple structure, fashioned as a thatched hut borned on the backs of elephants and lions. Work on these five temples was stopped after the death of Narasimha Varman in 668.
• Rock Cut Caves - such as the Mahishasuramardini Cave and Varaha Cave.

The 2004 tsunami that hit the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu has revealed various rocky structures and carvings of animals. These structures are considered to be a part of the seven legendary pagodas that were first mentioned by the British traveler J. Goldingham in his accounts of Mahabalipuram which he had visited in 1798. Earlier various other travel writers and sailors had also reported as having seen the seven pagodas by the sea. In recent years, another major find was made of a large number of underwater ruins. It has been dated as far back as 6000 BC, older than Harappa, although the Indian National Institute of Oceanography dates it to be 1500 to 1200 years old.