Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Encyclopedia
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
at Mahabalipuram, this world heritage site in Tamil Nadu
gained UNESCO World Heritage site distinction in 1984. The temple town which was a seaport, is believed to be over two thousand years old and has approximately forty monuments including the largest open-air bas-relief in the world. The town is said to have gained prominence under the rule of Mamalla
.
The UNESCO World Heritage site distinction has been bestowed on 4 categories of monuments:
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast
Coromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
in the 7th and 8th centuries. Barely 58 km from Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
at Mahabalipuram, this world heritage site in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
gained UNESCO World Heritage site distinction in 1984. The temple town which was a seaport, is believed to be over two thousand years old and has approximately forty monuments including the largest open-air bas-relief in the world. The town is said to have gained prominence under the rule of Mamalla
Narasimhavarman I
Narasimhavarman I was a Tamil king of the Pallava dynasty who ruled South India from 630–668 CE. He shared his father Mahendravarman I's love of art and completed the work started by Mahendravarman in Mahabalipuram....
.
The UNESCO World Heritage site distinction has been bestowed on 4 categories of monuments:
- Ratha TemplesPancha RathasPancha Rathas - an example of monolith Indian rock-cut architecture dating from the late 7th century, located at Mamallapuram, a tiny village south of Madras in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-History:...
: Temples in the form of chariots - Mandapas: Cave sanctuaries covered with bas-reliefs totaling 11 in number. The famous of the Mandapas are the Varaha Cave TempleVaraha Cave TempleVaraha Cave Temple, an example of Indian rock-cut architecture dating from the late 7th century, is a rock-cut cave temple located at Mamallapuram, is a finest testimonial of anciest Vishwakarma Sthapathis, a tiny village south of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India...
, Krishna Cave Temple, Pancha Pandava Cave Temple and the Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple - Rock relief: This category includes - Descent of the GangesDescent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)Descent of the Ganges at Mahabalipuram, in the Tamil Nadu state India, is one of a group of monuments that were designated as a World Heritage Site since 1984. Measuring long by high, it is a giant open-air relief carved of the a monolithic rock. The monuments and sanctuaries were built by the...
, the largest open air Rock relief also known as Arjuna's Penance or Bhagiratha's Penance - Temples: Temples cut out of rock like the famous Shore TempleShore TempleThe Shore Temple is so named because it overlooks the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mahabalipuram, a village south of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu,...
with its high stepped pyramidal tower and thousands of sculptures dedicated to the glory of Lord SivaShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...