Trip to Mahabalipuram

Last year our ten day vacation to Chennai and Puducherry took us to Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram (as known earlier). Mahabalipuram is an ancient port town 60 kms  south of Chennai and comes under Kancheepuram district, known for it's silk sarees world over. Mahabalipuram was built by Pallavas who had their capital as Kancheepuram. Mahabalipuram was their main seaport,ancient Indian traders who went to countries of South Est Asia sailed from this seaport.

Majority of the monuments(rock cut ad monolithic) were built during the reign of Narasimha Varman1 (630 AD - 668 AD) while few were built during the reign of his successors Paramesvar Varman (672 AD - 700 AD) and Narasimha Varman II (700 AD - 720 AD)

                                The main attractions of Mahabalipuram

The Light house

The light house is near the Mahishasur Mardini cave and overlooks the sea, standing atop the light house gives the visitor a very picturesque view.

     

Krishna's Butterball

Just north of the Ganesh Ratha is a huge boulder known as Krishna's Butter Ball. It is perched on a hilltop and looks as if about to slide down

                                                                              

The Cave Temples

They are a group of temples located close to each other

Arjuna's Penance

Mountain Scene

Vishnu Shrine

Ganges Cleft

Mahishamardini cave

Mahishamardini Panel, Mahishamardini Cave

Seshasayi Vishnu Panel, Mahishamardini Cave

Varaha cave

 

Trivikrama Panel, Varaha Cave

                                                                           

                                                                               Bhuvaraha Panel, Varaha Cave 

Gajalakshmi Panel, Varaha Cave

The Five Rathas

These monolithic temples are called rathas because they resemble wooden chariot and was built by Narasimha Varman1. A huge rock sloping from south to north was cut to form didderent parts of the temple. Though these temples are called panchpandvas they have nothing to do with mahabharat.

Draupadi Ratha

                                                         

                                                                                                                                         

Dharma raja ratha

The Shore Temple

It was built by Narasimha Varman II. It has an idol of reclining Lord Vishnu carved out of bedrock

The Beach

Touching the Shore temple is the exquisite beach

So if you are planning to plan a vacation to south of India make sure to add Mahabalipuram into your itinerary. You will really cherish the moments as we had.