Seaport of the Pallava
Kings
Mamallapuram (also called Mahaballipuram) is about an
hour's drive from Chennai on the East Coast Road. It was
the second capital and seaport of the Pallava Kings who
ruled in the 5th century.
Local legend has it that there was once a beautiful city
here with seven temples, which the Gods submerged under
the sea in anger. It was dismissed as fishermen's tale,
until in 2002, an Indo-British team of divers discovered
a series of man-made structures under water, covering
an area of several square miles.
Today at Mamallapuram, you can see the famous Shore Temple,
the only surviving temple out of the original seven (the
rest have sunk under the sea).
The Shore Temple is among the oldest temples of South
India and represents the final flowering of Pallava art.
Mamallapuram is also famous for its awe-inspiring open-air
granite sculptures.
Arjuna's Penance, one of the world's biggest bas-reliefs
depicts the story of the descent of the River Ganges from
Heaven to Earth.
Cave temples and massive monolithic sculptures (carved
from a single large block of granite) make Mamallapuram
a place to remember.
 Visit
to Stone Carvers
The traditions of stone sculpting continue unbroken even
today. There is a school of sculpture, where students
from families traditionally engaged in stone carving learn
the art.
You can visit a stone carver, or shop at some of the local
stores for typical stone sculptures. |
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