Mahabalipuram

[muh-hah-buh-lee-poor-uhm]

Mahabalipuram, town, Tamil Nadu state, SE India, a coastal resort on the Coromandel Coast. Archaeological remains there represent some of the earliest-known examples of Dravidian architecture (c.7th cent. A.D.) in India. Under the patronage of the Pallava dynasty, numerous temples, hewn from granite hillocks, were carved. The site is often called the Seven Pagodas because of the high pinnacles of seven of its temples, six of which were said to have been submerged by the sea. During the tsunami of Dec., 2004, eyewitnesses said they saw the offshore ruins exposed by the retreating waters; previously unknown ruins onshore were revealed when the waves removed several feet of sand. The town is also called Mamallapuram.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004.
Licensed from Columbia University Press

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram (மகாபலிபுரம்) also known as Mamallapuram (மாமல்லபுரம்) is a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has an average elevation of 12 metres (39 feet).

Mahabalipuram was a 7^th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have been named after the Pallava king Mamalla. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7^th and the 9^th century, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Landmarks

The monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic, and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order. The sculptures are excellent examples of Pallava art.

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 Pancha Rathas where each Ratha is sculpted in a different style.

Some important structures include:

Thirukadalmallai, the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It was also built by Pallava King in order to safeguard the sculptures from the ocean. It is told that after building this temple, the remaining architecture was preserved and was not corroded by sea.
Descent of the Ganges - a giant open-air bas relief
Arjuna's Penance - relief sculpture on a massive scale extolling an episode from the Hindu epic, The Mahabharata.
Varaha Cave Temple - a small rock-cut temple dating back to the 7^th century.
The Shore Temple - a structural temple along the Bay of Bengal with the entrance from the western side away from the sea. Recent excavations have revealed new structures here. The temple was reconstructed stone by stone from the sea after being washed away in a cyclone.
Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. An interesting aspect of the rathas is that, despite their sizes they are not assembled — each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone.

Underwater city

According to descriptions by early travel writers from Britain, the area near Mahabalipuram had seven pagodas by the sea. Accounts of Mahabalipuram were first written down by British traveller John Goldingham who was told of the "Seven Pagodas" when he visited in 1798.

An ancient port city and parts of a temple built in the 7^th century may have been uncovered by the tsunami that resulted from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. As the waves gradually receded, the force of the water removed sand deposits that had covered various rocky structures and revealed carvings of animals, which included an elaborately carved head of an elephant and a horse in flight. A small square-shaped niche with a carved statue of a deity could be seen above the head of the elephant. In another structure, there was a sculpture of a reclining lion. The use of these animal sculptures as decorations is consistent with other decorated walls and temples from the Pallava period in the 7^th and 8^th centuries.

The Archaeological Survey of India sent divers to begin underwater excavations of the area on February 17, 2005.

Demography

As of 2001 India census, Mahabalipuram had a population of 12,049. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Mahabalipuram has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 66%. In Mahabalipuram, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Orphanages

Mahabalipuram is known for its many orphanages which often invite tourists to visit them (and donate).

Gallery

Bus Routes

Apart from private bus operators, TNSTC and MTC Chennai operate buses to and from Mahabalipuram

Route Number	Start	End	Via
115	Mahabalipuram	Tambaram	Thiruporur,Kelambakkam
108 B	Mahabalipuram	Chennai	Thirukazhukundram,Chengalpattu
117	Mahabalipuram	Kovalam (Tamil Nadu)	East Coast Road
118	Chennai	Kalpakkam	Mahabalipuram,East Coast Road
119	Chennai	Kalpakkam	Mahabalipuram,Old Mahabalipuram Road
188 (ECR)	Chennai	Puducherry	Mahabalipuram
188 C	Chennai	Cheyyur	Mahabalipuram,Kalpakkam
188 D	Chennai	Anaicut	Mahabalipuram,Kalpakkam
188 K	Chennai	Kadapakkam	Mahabalipuram,Kalpakkam
212 A	Mahabalipuram	Kanchipuram	Thirukazhukundram,Chengalpattu
515	Mahabalipuram	Tambaram	Thiruporur,Kelambakkam
568	Mahabalipuram	Adyar,Chennai	Old Mahabalipuram Road
588	Mahabalipuram	Adyar,Chennai	East Coast Road
589	Velachery,Chennai	Mahabalipuram	East Coast Road