Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

Infobox World Heritage Site
Name = Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram


State_Party = IND
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, ii, iii, iv
ID = 249
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/
Region = Asia-Pacific
Year = 1984
Session = 8th
Extension =
Danger =

This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. Barely 58 km from Chennai, this world heritage site in Tamil Nadu gained this distinction in 1984. This temple town is said to be at least two thousand years old and boasts of about forty monuments including the largest open-air bas-relief in the world. Since the 7th century, when Mahabalipuram was made a seaport by Mamalla, the rock-cut temples have become quite popular here.

This temple town is said to be at least two thousand years old and boasts of about forty monuments; for its 'rathas' (temples in the form of chariots), 11 excavated temples or 'mandapas' (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air relief such as the famous `Descent of the Ganges` and `Arjuna`s Penance` and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. These monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic, and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible.

Besides this, there are several famous temples at Mahabalipuram, where the Temple of Sthalasayana Perumal and the Shore Temple are perhaps the best of all. It is believed by some that this area served as a school for young sculptors. The different sculptures, some half finished, may have been examples of different styles of architecture. This can be seen in the Pancha Rathas where each Ratha is sculpted in a different style.

ee also

*Arjuna's Penance
*Varaha Cave Temple
*Shore Temple
*Pancha Rathas

External Links

*http://www.saviontravel.com/world-heritage-sites/mahabalipuram-monuments.html
*http://worldheritage.heindorffhus.dk/frame-IndiaMahabalipuram.htm

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