Mahabalipuram town is located some 60 Km from Chennai. You can make your base camp in Chennai and make a day visit and be awed by the architectural wonder that awaits there by the sea shore.
The panch raths (the five chariots) is a set of magnificent monolithic rock temples. The hut shaped structure below is the Draupadi’s rath, dedicated to Goddess Durga.
A view of the intricate structures carved out of a single rock.
The remains takes you to a journey into history and the evolution of wonderful Dravidian style architecture.
Its hard to believe the structures are carved out of monolithic rock but then seeing is believing…
A figure of Nandi bull – which is still left unfinished…
A long view of the complex … The elephant you see is again a master piece carved out of a single rock..
One of the raths…
Yudhistra’s rath…
the front of the Draupadi’s rath is a Lion’s figure, which is the celestial vehicle to the Goddess durga housed in there…
The sculpture of Lord Vishnu in repose on his sever hooded cobra couch “Adisesha” in Mahishasura mardini mandapam..
Rock mural depicting mahishasura mardhini in the rock cut Mahisasura mardini mantapam…
Yet another rock mural decorating the walls of a mantap…
This elaborately carved rock bas-relief is popularly known as “Arjuna’s penance” This Arjuna’s penance is really a wonderful portrayal of art.
This huge boulder in a hill slope is popularly known as “Krishna’s butter ball”
Only surviving shore temple of the seven temples originally build…
Closer view of the shore temple…
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Amazing!
I have one doubt. Why werent there any wheels in rathas. This is actually a serious doubt I have.
May be coz the raths are firmly grounded :p
ohhh… one place i would love to visit. my mom had gone there. we will also, sometime for sure! thanks for the photographic journal.