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Mahabalipuram,
or Mamallapuram, was the chief seaport of the Pallavas who ruled
over much of South India from as early as the first century
B.C to the eighth century A.D., and it is now recognized as
the site of some of the greatest architectural and sculptural
achievements in India. Under the reign of Narasimha Varman (c.
630), this seaport began to grow as a great artistic center.
The beautiful cave temples and gigantic open air reliefs carved
from blocks of granite date to the seventh century.
The little seaside town of Mammalapuram, an hour's drive from
Chennai, has a beautiful beach spanning 20 km. The 7th century
town is famous for its rock-hewn temples, sculptures and the
world's largest stone bas relief. A crocodile farm, snake venom
extracting centre, schools of art and sculpture and a wide choice
of resorts along the beach draw holiday-seekers all round the
year, especially during the Dance Festival held in January-February.
General Info
Area: 8 sq. km
Population: 12,049
Languages: Tamil and English
Best time to visit: October to March
Climate: The climate of Mahabalipuram remains hot and
sultry throughout the year with a maximum temperature of 35°C
and a minimum of 19°C. |
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| Places of Interest
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Caves
The Varaha Cave, a small rock-cut mandapam (hall), is a faceted
and finished gem with two incarnations of Vishnu-Varaha (boar)
and Vamana (dwarf). Particularly noteworthy here are four panels
of the famous Pallava doorkeepers. There is about them a mood
of contemplative reverie, a lyrical softness and subtle grace
totally at variance with the primordial machismo their role
as guards of the gods imposes on them. The Dharmaraja Cave,
built in the early seventh century, contains three empty shrines.
The Mahisasurmardini Cave (mid-seventh century) has fine bas-reliefs
on its panels of enduring beauty. The Somaskanda sculpture radiates
peace, power, and wisdom while Lord Vishnu is shown in omniscient
repose in a masterpiece of dhwani (the art of suggestion). On
the opposite side is a huge theatrical panel showing, Goddess
Durga's fight with the demon Mahishasura, an episode culled
from the celebrated Sanskrit poem Devi Mahatmya. About
5 km north of Mahabalipuram is another cave called Tiger Cave,
a rock-cut shrine possibly dating back to 7th century.
Krishna Mandapam
A bas relief, notable for its realistic representation. The
panel relates to one of the stories of Lord Krishna.
Arjuna's Penance
This is the world's largest bas relief measuring 27m X 9m. This
huge whale-backed rock contains figures of gods, demigods, men,
beasts, birds and almost all of the entire creation. And, this
is easily the pride of Mamallapuram.
The Five Rathas
There are the five monolithic temples, each created in a different
style. They are also known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas - and
four out of the five rathas are supposed to have been carved
out of a single rock.
The Shore Temple
This is one of the oldest temples. Unique about this temple
is the fact that it houses shrines for both Lord Shiva and Lord
Vishnu. This belongs to the early 8th century AD and it is a
classic example of the first phase of structural temples constructed
in pure Dravidian style.
The Government College of Architecture and Sculpture
Here training is imparted in the various branches of temple
art and architecture, according to Silpa Sastra.
Tirukalukundram
This tourist spot has a small Shiva temple situated on the top
of the Vedagiri hill which is 160m high. Just before noon everyday,
two White kites stop at the temple and are fed by the temple
priests. Legend has it that these two birds are actually saints
who daily make a stop to rest at the temple on their flight
between Varanasi and Rameswaram. There is also a larger Shiva
Temple in the town below. At the South-East end of the town
is a spacious tank whose waters are said to have curative powers.
Once every 12 years, a conch is discovered in this tank and
thousands of devotees flock to bathe in the tank at this auspicious
time. A collection of the conches is displayed in the larger
Shiva Temple.
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| Excursions Of Mahabalipuram |
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Kanchipuram
A 65-kilometre stretch of sun-scorched road connects
Mahabalipuram to the fabled city of a thousand temples, Kanchipuram.
There are 650 stone inscriptions in Kanchipuram belonging to
different dynasties. The temples here reflect the maturity and
efflorescence of Pallava art and the ornate and often imposing
embellishments were produced later by the Chola, Vijayanagara
and Chalukyan kings. There is a solemn grandeur, a grandiosity
of vision and ornamental excess in the temples here. A disembodied
otherworldly stillness impregnates their vast inner domains
where time is a captive fugitive. The Ekambaranathar temple,
the Kailasanatha temple, Sri Varadaraja temple, Sri Vaikuntaperumal
temple… the names stretch endlessly. The city itself is
dedicated to the presiding deity, Sri Kamakshi (one with eyes
of love) at the Kamakshi temple. In Sanskrit, the word Kanchi
denotes girdle, and poets have allegorically characterized the
city as a girdle to the earth.
Vedanthangal
Located 53 km from Mahabalipuram, Vedanthangal is one
of the oldest bird sanctuaries in India. The sheer number of
birds that visit this sanctuary is amazing. It is said that
almost 1,00,000 avian species of varied shapes, sizes and hues-including
storks, egrets, cormorants, darter, and flamingos-visit this
sanctuary between October and March.
Covelong
The remains of the fort have now been converted into a luxury
beach resort which offers facilities for windsurfing and swimming,
an ancient Catholic Church, a mosque and the ruins of the fort
make interesting viewing from this 5 Star hotel.
Crocodile Bank
The Crocodile bank is situated barely 14 km from Mahabalipuram
on the Chennai-Mahabalipuram road. Set up by an American named
Romulus Whitaker in 1976, the number of crocodiles in the bank
grew in its first 15 years from just 15 to over 5,000. Located
nearby is a snake farm where anti-venom is produced for treating
snakebites.
Muttukadu
An ideal place for water sports, Muttukadu is 21 km
from Mahabalipuram. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation
(TTDC) has a boathouse here. Visitors can enjoy boating, canoeing,
kayaking, and windsurfing. The Dakshina Chitra of Madras Craft
Foundation here has replica of an old agricultural house of
Tamil Nadu, replica of Kanchipuram weavers house and replicas
of ancient houses presenting the lifestyle of South India.
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| Festivals |
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Pongal
Pongal, the most important festival of the Tamils, is celebrated
in mid-January every year. The festival is celebrated amidst
gaiety and joy not only in Tamil Nadu but also in most parts
of South India.
Dance Festival
Mahabalipuram Dance Festival is an occasion for the dance lovers
to enjoy the performances of the artists from all parts of the
country. The festival is celebrated in the month of January/February
every year. The Shore Temple forms the backdrop of this festival
and the music from the musical instruments mixes with the natural
music of wind and the sea. The Mahabalipuram Dance festival
is an occasion when artists from all over the country come together
to perform.
Perumal temple festival
The Sthalasayana Perumal temple festivals, Masimagam and Brahmothsavam,
are held in the month of March.
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| How to get
there |
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By Road
: Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram is connected by road to Chennai,
Tirukkalikundram (Pakshithirtham), Kanchipuram (65 km), and
Pondicherry.
By Air : The nearest airport from Mahabalipuram is Chennai
(Madras), located around 60 km away. One can get flights for
almost all major destinations in India and abroad.The nearest
railway station, Chengalpattu, is around 29 km away from Mahabalipuram.
Trains for Chennai and several other major cities in South India
are available from here.
By Rail : The nearest mainline railway station is Chennai,
75 kms away. |
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