Mahabalipuram: Life, divinely preserved in stone

View: Rock-cut temples

Taken over by kings of the Pallava Dynasty, whose first capital was at Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram was later renamed to Mamallapuram, giving glory to King Narasimhavarman, who was bestowed with the title of “Mammala” for his wrestling skills. The town lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.

View: Trimurti Cave Temple

During the rule of the Pallavas between the 3rd and 9th Century CE, many great artists, dancers, poets, and writers found a foothold here and left their mark on the world.

View: Mahishamardini rock cut mandapam

The Pallavas made Mamallapuram a hub where they emerged as pioneers of new styles of art and architecture, making good use of their resources. However, the ingenuity of the Pallavas remained hidden from the world for centuries.

View: Triple-celled rock-cut shrine

When Mahabalipuram received its fair share of limelight, it quickly became popular for its mesmerising temples and absolute serenity. The architectural marvels and gorgeous beaches contributed to the fascinating legends of the Pallava Dynasty.

View: Ganesh Rathaa

The Mahabalipuram complex is practically an open-air museum with its bas reliefs and rock-cut temples and caves. Many of the temples here are a sight of pleasure for devotees. Built with granite, they relate the stories from the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

View: Arjuna's Penance

The town is also a major stopover for visitors coming from Chennai and Puducherry. Once a thriving port, Mamallapuram is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site complex.

Also famous for its seashell jewellery, seafood, dotted with cafes and markets and featuring a breathtaking oceanfront, it is the perfect place to take a vacation.

One of the treasures of the Pallava dynasty, the Mahishasura Rock stands on the seaside, with gentle waves lapping at its base. An image of the deity has been carved into the lovely sculptured rock. Pay a visit to this charming temple and let the soft spray of sea douse you with a sense of serenity.

The Shore Temple consists of three shrines, of which two are dedicated to Lord Shiva and one to Lord Vishnu. The shrine of Lord Vishnu houses an intricately carved image of the lord in a reclining position. It is the smallest and the oldest of all three shrines in the temple.

A lion statue stands in front of the Draupadi Rath, which is the smallest of all the rathas. It is supposed to be the vahana (vehicle) of Goddess Durga, representative of Draupadi here. Legend has it that a white lion was gifted to Durga by Himavat, the father of Parvati Devi. The ratha is also adorned by carvings of Goddess Durga.

Perched on one of the highest boulders in the Mahabalipuram complex, Olakkaneswara Temple can be accessed by a long flight of steps carved in the boulder.

This rock-hewn shrine boasts intricate and attractive stone carvings that are a visual treat for spectators. From the temple, you can get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding lush greenery and the boulder-strewn landscape.

Rayar Gopuram is a temple that could not reach its full glory as it was left unfinished. Although it is called a gopuram (or a gateway), a gopuram was never constructed here. Despite that, the intricately carved structure stands so high that if it had been finished it would have been a sight to behold.

The Pancharathas (five chariots) at Mahabalipuram are five spectacular rock carvings, based on the characters of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The rock carvings are a fine testimony to Dravidian architecture.

The five rathas belong to the Pandava brothers - Yudhishthir, Bheema, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadeva, and their wife Draupadi. The temples are built in the shape of pagodas and look very similar to Buddhist shrines.

The chariots of the Pandavas and Draupadi are accompanied by statues of an elephant, a lion and Nandi bull, vehicles of Lord Indra, Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva, respectively.

While the name of Tiger Caves at Mahabalipuram brings to mind a cave featuring majestic tigers, this is actually not the case. This name is bestowed upon a couple of rock-cut temples that have a crown of carved heads of what looks like a tiger. It is believed that the animal is actually the mythological yali and the spot is called Yali Mandapam.

It makes for a great picnic spot and the large rocks and sandy shores are a haven for birds. Since its architecture looks like an open theatre, the place also hosts several cultural events.

The cave is believed to be the spot where the Pallava king used to address his people from.

Perched on a hillock that is speckled with rock-cut Hindu shrines, Valayankuttai Ratha has been carved out of a single boulder. A remarkable piece of South Indian craftsmanship, the ratha remains unfinished but still draws visitors for its charming facade.