Tamil Nadu Tourism - Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram became the capital of Pallava rulers after Kanchipuram. 58 km from Madras, the tiny seaside village on the shores of Bay of Bengal is world-famous for its shore temples. The boulder-strewn landscape of the village is hardly a consideration for the huge influx of tourists who come here to explore its miles of unspoiled beaches and witness the splendor of the rock-cut art and architecture of the region. Unlike the other shrines in Tamil Nadu, the sculpture of Mahabalipuram depicts scenes from day-to-day life, instead of the carvings of Gods and Goddesses. The artistic architecture of Mahabalipuram can be broadly categorized into four parts: open-air bas-reliefs, structured temples, man-made caves and rock-cut 'rathas' or chariot-temples carved from single boulders.










It is a significant tourist place of Tamil Nadu and is well-known for its stunning stone carvings and ancient temples. There are several monuments in Mahabalipuram that have been recognized by the UNESCO and are must watch for the tourists embarking on a tour to Mahabalipuram. Moreover, Mahabalipuram is quite well-liked for its sun-drenched beaches that are peaceful retreats to laze or to take languorous strolls in the evening. All the tourist attractions in Mahabalipuram have their individual appeal and mirror the historic charm of the golden era. Moreover, Mahabalipuram is also an ideal point for indulging in various adventure activities such as bike trips, boat rides, fishing trips, trekking and wind surfing.










¤ Tourist Attractions of Mahabalipuram

* Arjuna's Penance
Arjuna's Penance is 27 metres long and 9 metres high bas-relief believed to be the world's largest bas-relief. It consists of two huge boulders with a cleft in the rock that depicts the descent of the Ganga on Earth to fulfill the wish of King Bhagiratha to redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. The carvings depict two large elephants, scenes from the tales of Panchatantra, a forest with tribal people, all forms of animal life and graceful women beaming with inner beauty. The whole scene seems to have a subtle touch edge of humor that is evident in the cat doing rigorous penance against an ascetic.

* Caves
The Varaha Cave shows two incarnations of Vishnu-Varaha (boar) and Vamana (dwarf) along with four panels of the famous Pallava doorkeepers in contemplative reverie. It is the lyrical softness and grace of these supposed to be macho-guards that make them attract the attention of the tourists. The 7th century Mahisasurmardini Cave has fine bas-reliefs on its panels while the Dharmaraja Cave sports three empty shrines. The other highlights of these caves are the Somaskanda, masterpiece of 'dhwani' (the art of suggestion) depicting Lord Vishnu and a huge theatrical panel showing Goddess Durga's fight with the demon Mahishasura. Just 5 kn from the city is another 7th century cave called Tiger Cave, a rock-cut shrine.

* Pancha Pandava Rathas
The famous Rathas or Chariots are situated at the southern extreme of Mahabalipuram. Known as the Paanch Pandava Rathas, after the five characters of Mahabharata, four of them are carved out of a single rock. The Draupadi and Arjuna Rathas are square in shape while the Bhima Ratha is linear in shape. Dharamraja Ratha is tallest of all and Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha is apsidal. Out of these rocks, gigantic stone animals have been carved out including an elephant.

* Thirukadalmallai
It is a marvelous temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple was built by the Pallavas for safeguarding the sculptures from the waves of the ocean. According to the sources, after this temple was built, the remaining structure was preserved and was unharmed by the sea.

* Shore Temple
This charming temple located on the shore is the most famous among the tourist attractions in Mahabalipuram. It is located between two Shiva temples and is a visual delight recognized for its architectural masterpieces. You will find the attractive sculptures of Nandi the bull while the figure of Vishnu is present in the sanctum.

* Krishna's Butterball
This is a huge natural rock perched on a hillside and the precarious way in which it is balanced simply startles its onlookers.