Image gallery of seventh century Pallava monuments at Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram ( aka Mamallapuram )
Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram is located 58kms south of Chennai, Tamilnadu India.
Mahabalipuram is a 7th century seaport of the South Indian Dynasty of the Pallavas. Its is believed to have been named after either the demon king Mahabali or the Pallava king Mamalla. Mahabalipuram has various historic monuments built between seventh and ninth century and has been classified as an UNESCO world heritage site. one could find plenty of bus services from Chennai.
Mahabalipuram monuments have been classified into following categories
- open-air bas-reliefs
- structured temples
- man mand caves and rathas ( chariots carved "in situ" from single boulders to resemble temples or the chariots used in the temple processions).
The famous bas-relief Arjuna's penance and the Krishna mandapam adorn the middle of current day Mahabalipuram village while the famous shore temple presides over the beach. Sixteen man-made caves and monolithic structures, in different stages of completion are scattered through Mahabalipuram, but the most complete of the nine rathas are in a group, named after the five Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata and are situated at the southern part of Mahabalipuram.
Some important structures at Mahabalipuram include:
Arjuna's Penance - relief sculpture on a massive scale extolling stories from Hindu mythology. The Shore Temple - a structural temple along the Bay of Bengal with the entrance from the Western side away from the sea. Recent excavations have revealed new structures here. The temple was reconstructed stone by stone from the sea after being washed away in a cyclone. PanchaPandava Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Dharmaraja, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi.
Famous Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Seventh century Rock cut bas-relief Arjuna's Penance Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Shore temple constructed by Narasimha Varman II Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Pancha Pandava Ratha Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Ruthrakali by Manasa wood creation.
Ganesha Ratha Mamallapuram, Tamilnadu, India. unlike other rathas, recently this ratha has been installed with Pillayar idol.
Dhramaraja ratha Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Bheema ratha Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Pidari ratha situated at the outskirts Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Mahishasuramardhini Mandapam Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Bheema ratha Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Mamallapuram Mandapam Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Olakanesvara ( flame eyed Shiva ) temple which served as Light house during Pallava era Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Varaha Mandapam Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Mukunda nayanar kovil situated at the outskirts Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Manasa wood creation Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Vishnu in kidantha kolam Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Mukunda Nayanar temple Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Pidari ratha Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India
Nakula and Sahadevaratha ratha Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India