Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram (Port city of the Pallavas) was cal
led as mamallapuram in the earlier days. This was an ancient port city of the Pallava rulers of South India and was also their secondary capital.
Mahabalipuram lies on the coramendal coast facing the Bay of Bengal which is a wonderful site to view. Its a better place for those who love ancient monuments, sculptures etc. One can see craft items in the city for purchase.
History 
led as mamallapuram in the earlier days. This was an ancient port city of the Pallava rulers of South India and was also their secondary capital.Mahabalipuram lies on the coramendal coast facing the Bay of Bengal which is a wonderful site to view. Its a better place for those who love ancient monuments, sculptures etc. One can see craft items in the city for purchase.
Narasimhavarman I, one of the well-known Pallava kings was ruling Mahabalipuram in the 7th century. He was also known as `Mahamalla`, which means `great wrestler`. He decorated Mahabalipuram with numerous sculptures and monuments. He built several cave temples and monolithic shrines cut out of natural rock. He also constructed the sculptures in the famous bas-relief panel called 'Arjuna's Penance' or 'Bhagiratha's Penance', which shows a person who may be either Arjuna or Bhagiratha.
The monumental remnants of Mahabalipuram can be categorized into four main types. There are
1) 'Monoliths' - freestanding temples cut out of solid rock from top downwards, locally known as the 'rathas' or 'chariots'. There are five such rathas seen close to each other and these are together known as 'Pancha rathas' or 'Panchapandava rathas'.
* Dharmaja (or) Yudhistira - crowned by a three layered pyramid structure, unfinished, dedicated to Shi
va, is the only Ratha that carries an inscription, which mentions the Pallava king Nârasimhavarman I.
* Arjuna - in the form of a pyramid, certainly dedicated to Shiva, as the pre
sence of the bull Nandi suggests.
* Draupadi - in the form of a hut with thatched roof, dedicated to th
e goddess Durga
* Bhima - a step temple, dedicated to Vishnu
1) 'Monoliths' - freestanding temples cut out of solid rock from top downwards, locally known as the 'rathas' or 'chariots'. There are five such rathas seen close to each other and these are together known as 'Pancha rathas' or 'Panchapandava rathas'.
* Dharmaja (or) Yudhistira - crowned by a three layered pyramid structure, unfinished, dedicated to Shi
va, is the only Ratha that carries an inscription, which mentions the Pallava king Nârasimhavarman I.* Arjuna - in the form of a pyramid, certainly dedicated to Shiva, as the pre
sence of the bull Nandi suggests.* Draupadi - in the form of a hut with thatched roof, dedicated to th
e goddess Durga
* Bhima - a step temple, dedicated to Vishnu
*Nakula & Sahadeva - unfinished, dedicated to Indra (God of the gods)
2) 'Madapas' - locally called so. There are many other temples excavated in hill scarps of Mahabalipuram.
3) 'Shore Temple - It is one of the most important structural temples here. It was mostly built by Narasimhavarman II or Rajasimha, one of the successors of Mahamalla. This wa
s recognised by UNESCO and has been listed among the World heritage sites. Its believed that there were 7 magnificent temples known as pagodas, built near the sea. But now only the shore temple is the only one which can be seen. The shore temple consists of three shrines. Shore Temple comprises three shrines:
1 - prominent ones are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. In the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), an image of Shivalinga embraces the site.
2 & 3 -At the rear end, one can find two shrines facing each other. Here, one shrine is dedi
cated to Ksatriyasimnesvara and other to Lord Vishnu. In the shrine, Lord Vishnu is imaged reclining on the 'Seshanag', which is a symbol of consciousness in Hinduism.
Perched on a 50 feet square plinth, the pyramidal structure raises to the extent of 60 feet. The temple was designed to grasp the first rays of the rising sun and to spotlight the waters after sunset.
4) Arjuna's Penance: 
s recognised by UNESCO and has been listed among the World heritage sites. Its believed that there were 7 magnificent temples known as pagodas, built near the sea. But now only the shore temple is the only one which can be seen. The shore temple consists of three shrines. Shore Temple comprises three shrines:1 - prominent ones are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. In the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), an image of Shivalinga embraces the site.
2 & 3 -At the rear end, one can find two shrines facing each other. Here, one shrine is dedi
cated to Ksatriyasimnesvara and other to Lord Vishnu. In the shrine, Lord Vishnu is imaged reclining on the 'Seshanag', which is a symbol of consciousness in Hinduism.Perched on a 50 feet square plinth, the pyramidal structure raises to the extent of 60 feet. The temple was designed to grasp the first rays of the rising sun and to spotlight the waters after sunset.
Bas-Relief (known as Penance of Arjuna or Descent of Ganges) originated in 7th & 8th centuries is perhaps one of the largest in the world. This is chiseled out of monolithic 
rock. It comprises of 2 gigantic rocks (71 feet by 27 feet). it is also known as Penance of arjuna, because the hero of epic Mahabarata, Arjuna's figure of practicing penance inorder to get the boon from Lord Shiva. The sculptures represe
nts a sage performing penance in a village on the banks of a river. According to some scholars, this sage is Arjuna, the hero of the epic Mahabharata. Again others depict this sage as Bhagiratha, who brought the river Ganga from the heavens to the earth.
There is a water tank above the hill which some says is the evidence where the river Ganga was flown.
The stone sculpture tradition of the Pallavas is still surviving in Mahabalipuram. The tradition is continued by a prestigious Government college of sculpture.
Its easily assessable from Chennai either through taxi or Bus. Tamilnadu Govt. has provided AC buses at frequent timing.
How to reach:
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
By Air:
Chennai Airport - 60 km
By Road:
To get it easier I have put the map.
Lots of Government AC buses are available from Thiruvanmayur.
By Train:
Chengalpatu (Nearest station) - 29 km
rock. It comprises of 2 gigantic rocks (71 feet by 27 feet). it is also known as Penance of arjuna, because the hero of epic Mahabarata, Arjuna's figure of practicing penance inorder to get the boon from Lord Shiva. The sculptures represe
nts a sage performing penance in a village on the banks of a river. According to some scholars, this sage is Arjuna, the hero of the epic Mahabharata. Again others depict this sage as Bhagiratha, who brought the river Ganga from the heavens to the earth.There is a water tank above the hill which some says is the evidence where the river Ganga was flown.
The stone sculpture tradition of the Pallavas is still surviving in Mahabalipuram. The tradition is continued by a prestigious Government college of sculpture.
Its easily assessable from Chennai either through taxi or Bus. Tamilnadu Govt. has provided AC buses at frequent timing.
How to reach:
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
By Air:
Chennai Airport - 60 km
By Road:
To get it easier I have put the map.
Lots of Government AC buses are available from Thiruvanmayur.
By Train:
Chengalpatu (Nearest station) - 29 km
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