MAHABALIPURAM

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>Tamilnadu is best known for the hospitality shown towards, by every individual. This tendency of the people has made people visiting Tamilnadu more comfortable and secured. The people are sentimental and lone to be kind and generous. There are many qualities to speak about this state and its people. Tamilnadu has its own history right from the past. Tamil is one of the ancient languages. Tamil is also the source for the others neighboring Dravidian languages such as Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Thulu. Located at a distance of 58-km from Chennai,Mahabalipuram has everything that makes a site memorable; tradition,history,piety,western annals,and current importance as a centre of tourism.
Mahabalipuram is located close to Chennai (Madras) on the shores of the Bay of Bengal,along the Indian eastern coast. Known for its rocks carvings and monolithic sculptures it has the famous shore temple,the only one to have survived the ravages of nature. Also known as the Seven Pagodas (temples),six now lie submerged in the sea. Mahabalipuram temples whose architecture was inspired by the Pallava Art were built during the period 830 - 1100 AD.
Mahabalipuram contains nearly forty monuments of different types including an "open air bas relief" which is the largest in the world. For centuries it has been a centre of pilgrimage,and even today it attracts devotees and foreigners in large numbers. There are two low hills in Mahabalipuram,about 400m from the sea whose both sides have 11 excavated temples,called Mandapas. Out of a big rock standing free nearby there is a "cut out" temple,called a "Ratha". This type is unique to Mahabalipuram.
Out of the other hill,much smaller and standing about 200m to the south,are fashioned five more rathas,and three big sculptures of a Nandi,a Loin and an Elephant. On the top of the bigger hill there is a structural temple,and a little distance the magnificent beginnings of a Vijayanagar Gopura and also survivals of what is believed to be a palace. The Five Rathas
The five Rathas include The Dharmaraja,The Bhima,The Arjuna,The Draupadi and The Sahadeva. The Five Rathas,about 200 m south of the main hill,were fashioned out of a smaller hill sloping down from the south. From the largest part was made the biggest of the five rathas,the Dharmaraja. Then followed onwards north,in the descending order of height,the Bhima,the Arjuna and the Draupadi.
A little to the west of Draupadi there was a comparatively large rock and out of it the Sahadeva Ratha was made. Immediately in front of the Draupadi again two smaller rocks were sculptured into an elephant and a lion. Behind the Draupadi and the Arjuna,which stand on a common base,there is a Nandi. The Shore Temple
The Shore Temple occupies a most extraordinary site at the very margin of the Bay of Bengal so that at high tide the waves sweep into it and the walls. For this reason their sculptures,have been eroded by the winds and waves of thirteen centuries. The Shrines In The Shore Temple
There are 3 shrines in the Shore Temple. Two of them are of Saiva and the third is of Vaishnava,with an image of Lord Anantasayi made of live rock. There are Vimanas over the Saiva (also spelt as Shaiv or Shaiva) shrines,but none over the third; it seems to have disappeared with time. Built by Narasimha Varman II Rajasimha,the maker of the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram in the 8th century,this is one of the earliest structural temples in Tamil Nadu. Temple Of Sthalasayana Perumal
To the north of the bigger hill there is the temple of Sthalasayana Perumal. To the west of the five Rathas there are three more rathas,two side by side. About 600 m north of Mahabalipuram,along the coast,is Saluvankuppam,where there are magnificent excavated temples and,near it,a rock Mandapa with tiger heads along its periphery,called the "Tigers Cave". Between Saluvankuppam and Mahabalipuram,less than 200m from the sea,stands another structural temple,the Mukunda Nayanar.
Each and every one of these monuments of different types,structural temple,excavated temple "cut out" temple,"open air bas relief",not to mention sculptures and Mandapas to be found here and there,is important and interesting. The Shore temple,the celebrated "open air bas relief" called "Arjuna's Penance",the Mahishamardhani and the Adivaraha "Cave" temples and the Five Rathas are the especial rewards of the visitor. All the monuments are Pallava except that the original Sthalasayana Perumal temple was expanded in Vijayanagar times. To the Chola days belongs a Mandapa at the entrance to the township
Tamilnadu which has in the southern past of India, which is the last of all states in the topography of India, has many beautiful places to watch. There are many beautiful sceneries, ancient monuments, historic temples for their unique sculptures, the culture and tradition of the natives and so on. There are lots of other things to be spoken as well. One such place to be watched, toward and enjoyed is mahabalipuram. This is a magnificent tourist place. Welcome to mahabalipuram, a legacy in stone.
Mahabalipuram lies on the Coromandel Coast which faces the Bay of Bengal. This is an elegant place to watch which a well established sea port was during the 7th and 10th centuries of the Pallava dynasty. This was the second capital of the Pallavas who ruled Kanchipuram. Formerly, mahabalipuram was known and called as Mahabalipuram. The former name of this place ‘Mahabalipuram’ has a history. A very rude cruel king Mahabali reined this place and in a fierce battle king Mahabali was killed by Lord Vishnu and the place was named after the dead, arrogant kind Mahabali.
It was during the reign of King Narasimha Varman I, the name Mahabalipuram was changed. It was renamed mahabalipuram which is called till now. There is a story behind. The name Mamallpuram king Narasimha Varman I was a great and valiant warrior. He was given the title Mamalla which means ‘the great wrestler’ so the name was converted from Mahabalipuram to mahabalipuram considering the great king and his achievements.
After the decline of the Gupta Dynasty, the pallavas rose to the pioneer in south India. They ruled over from the 3rd century till the end of the 9th century A.D. The best period of their rule was between 650 and 750 AD and this period was called the Golden Age of the pallavas. The pallavas were very powerful. They were profound thinkers.
It was during the rule of the pallavas, great poets, dramatists, artists, artisans, scholars and saints emerged. As one can say that the pallavas are the pioneers and forerunners of new styles both in art and architecture and mahabalipuram is the best place to praise off their skill and talent. New sculptures and unique paintings were innovative and exuberant. This place mahabalipuram itself became their exploring field and they made the best use of the resources. They game a shape and creative energy to what they imagined. It became a dream come true as it witnessed innovations in all styles.
The richness in mahabalipuram was not known to many, as these pallavas did not outlet and expose their quality and innovative creations to the outer world for obvious reasons. The aestheticism in mahabalipuram was hidden until the late 185h century. What is special about mahabalipuram? Of course every one can point out the rock - cut caves, temples made from a single rock, temples and strives of different structures, and bas-reliefs which are so artistic and sheer creativity. Mamallpuram is referred as an ‘open-air museum’. The great pallava kings Narasimha I and Rajasimha have well preserved these stylistic qualities that one enjoys in mahabalipuram even in the present day.
The beauty of the place is not only due to these architecture but the vast casuarinas trees, the silvery sandy beach the classical hand male crafts around have made them all to form what is a collective splendor. Any visitor who visits mahabalipuram will remain startled and intoxicated with the grandeur. They feel hand hearted and more out from this historical and fascinating tourist spot.
Mahabalipuram Information
Mahabalipuram Area
8 sq. km.
Mahabalipuram Altitude
Sea level
Mahabalipuram Population
12,000
Mahabalipuram Climate
Summer
Max. 36.6°C
Min 21.1°C
Winter
Max. 30.5°C
Min 19.8°C
Mahabalipuram Rainfall
32.5 cm average
Mahabalipuram Clothing
Tropical
Mahabalipuram Languages Spoken
Tamil and English
Mahabalipuram Tourist Season
Throught the year