I get opportunity to visit Chenna
quite often and Mahabalipuram, which is just 60 kilometers away from Chennai is
always an attraction. No wonder Mahablipuram is often described as amongst the
seven wonders of India. It is also one of the UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in
India. I have read a lot about this place in my school history books but as is
said “seeing is believing”. I found this place amazing with its unique breath
taking architecture and the sculptures all around, something which is rarely
seen anywhere else in the world.
Mahabalipuram is
a temple town and is famous for its monolithic rock cut temples with a unique blend
of Dravidian and Buddhist architecture. Monolithic simply mean that these
temples were carved out of a single rock. The temples belong to the Pallava
kings and dates back to the 7th and 8th centuries. There are eight rathas at
Mahabalipuram, out of which five are named after the 'Pandavas' of Mahabharata
and one after Draupadi. This site is also called Mamallapuram, named after the
great wrestler Mamalla, the title of Pallava king Narasimha Varman I. These temples are built in the same
shape as pagodas, and greatly resemble Buddhist shrines and monasteries.
It is believed by some that this
area served as a school for young sculptors. The different sculptures, some
half finished, may have been examples of different styles of architecture,
probably demonstrated by instructors and practiced on by young students. This
can be seen in the five rathas
(chariots) where each Ratha
is sculpted in a different style. These five Rathas were all carved out of a
single piece of granite in situ.
Besides
the five rathas , Mahabalipuram is also famous for its cave temples . The
notable cave temples here are the Varaha mandapa, Mahisamardini mandapa,
Paramesvara Mahavaraha Vishnugriha (Adivaraha cave). These are in the Mamalla
style while the Adiranchanda caves temples belong to the Mahendra period.The
caves here were once plastered and painted as indicated by the remains.
The
shore temple is another major attraction in Mahabalipuram. It was built in 700-728 AD and is is so
named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural
temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. The Shore Temple is a five-storeyed
structural Hindu temple rather than rock-cut as are the other monuments at the
site. It is the earliest important structural temple in Southern India. Its
pyramidal structure is 60 ft high and sits on a 50 ft square platform. There is
a small temple in front which was the original porch It is made out of finely
cut local granite. The temple is a combination of three shrines. The main
shrine is dedicated to Shiva as is the smaller second shrine. A small third
shrine, between the two, is dedicated to a reclining Vishnu.
Balancing
rock is another attraction. It is a huge rock that stands on its edge for
centuries. Its believed that even 1000 elephants can’t move it. Its also called
the butter ball of Krishna. People try all sorts of photography skills and also
do lot of brain storming explaining the amazing phenomena.
Mahabalipuram
is a small town and few hours are good enough to see the place. The shopping is
excellent in Mahabalipuram. Handmade crafts made by people in the region are
the specialty. These handmade crafts many times come in the form of stone
statues carved to look like the enormous originals that are in the area. These
statues are normally carved out of granite which enhances their beauty. Many
people are more than glad to travel to this region to acquire such fine
artistic pieces made by quality artisans. Soapstone images, wood carvings,
jewelry, and items made from local seashells are also popular items that are
sold in the local shops. The items, however, are costly as expected of any
tourist place.