Mamallapuram aka Mahabalipuram is famous for Pallva Rock-cut architecture and sculptures. It is at a distance of about 65Kms from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This Unesco World Heritage site that needs no introduction from bloggers has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries.
Narasimha Varma Pallavan, the great Pallava King, made Mamallapuram the capital of Pallava rock-cut architecture. He was bestowed with a vision that saw charriots,art-caves and beautiful mandapams in what others saw as rocks.. He really rocked..! Didn't he?. He chiseled poetry on rocks and stones that was continued by the next generation of Pallava Kings like Rajasimhan.
I was inspired by this historic place ever since I read Kalki's historical Novel (Tamil) of epic proportion - Sivagamiyin Sabadham during the school days. Mamallapuram finds an important place in this great historical Novel.
I visited Mamallapuram over a couple of week ends in Jan 2011. Each time I returned from this place awe-struck and was silently saluting the Vision of the Great Pallava King...!
This wikipedia section summarises the Pallava Architecture well..!
The following links also provide some interesting facts about Pallava Architecture.
Enough of links..!
I am amazed at the amount of information available on the internet (which speaks for the greatness of this place), So the idea is not to repeat what has been said already. My posts are just an attempt to capture the rock poetry in the photos and videos to share with others. Some photos are worth viewing again and again and this could be true of the photos of this great place too..! So the redundancy of these snaps on the net could well be acceptable..! Hope you like and enjoy them as much as I did.!
There are so many monuments which I took so many photos and videos of that a single post can neither contain all of them nor would do justice to any of them...!
So there would be many parts to this series of Mamallapuram Monuments starting with...
This beautiful temple is situated on the shores of the beautiful beach of Mamallapuram.
The below summary from this link -> http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-temples/shore-temple.html aptly describes it.
"Shore Temple is also acknowledged for being the first stone structure made by Pallavas. Before this, the monuments used to be carved out of the rocks or stones. Unlike other monuments of the region, Shore Temple is a five-storied rock-cut structural temple more willingly than monolithical. In southern India, this is one amongst the earliest and most important structural temples. The spire is extensively decorated with carvings and sculptures. In the recent years, a stone wall has been constructed to protect the shrine from further sea-erosion.
Perched on a 50 feet square plinth, the pyramidal structure raises to the extent of 60 feet. Presenting a typical specimen of Dravidian temple architecture, Shore Temple generates an exclusive combination of history and natural splendor. The temple was designed to grasp the first rays of the rising sun and to spotlight the waters after sunset. Shore Temple served as "a landmark by day and a beacon by night" - aptly described by Percy Brown...."
If you have not visited this temple, you better do it soon....as this cute kid has decided to do......before sea erosion eats this up completely..!
The beauty of this beach may not be contained in words, but looks like it can be contained in a cage..!
I spotted this beautiful cart in the hotel adjacent to the shore temple fence on my way back ..!
Narasimha Varma Pallavan, the great Pallava King, made Mamallapuram the capital of Pallava rock-cut architecture. He was bestowed with a vision that saw charriots,art-caves and beautiful mandapams in what others saw as rocks.. He really rocked..! Didn't he?. He chiseled poetry on rocks and stones that was continued by the next generation of Pallava Kings like Rajasimhan.
I was inspired by this historic place ever since I read Kalki's historical Novel (Tamil) of epic proportion - Sivagamiyin Sabadham during the school days. Mamallapuram finds an important place in this great historical Novel.
I visited Mamallapuram over a couple of week ends in Jan 2011. Each time I returned from this place awe-struck and was silently saluting the Vision of the Great Pallava King...!
This wikipedia section summarises the Pallava Architecture well..!
The following links also provide some interesting facts about Pallava Architecture.
Browse for more details the following wiki sites that contain more information than you could ask for..!
These wiki sites make light of our work ..Don't they..? I love wikipedia..!
Enough of links..!
I am amazed at the amount of information available on the internet (which speaks for the greatness of this place), So the idea is not to repeat what has been said already. My posts are just an attempt to capture the rock poetry in the photos and videos to share with others. Some photos are worth viewing again and again and this could be true of the photos of this great place too..! So the redundancy of these snaps on the net could well be acceptable..! Hope you like and enjoy them as much as I did.!
There are so many monuments which I took so many photos and videos of that a single post can neither contain all of them nor would do justice to any of them...!
So there would be many parts to this series of Mamallapuram Monuments starting with...
The Shore Temple
This beautiful temple is situated on the shores of the beautiful beach of Mamallapuram.
The below summary from this link -> http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-temples/shore-temple.html aptly describes it.
"Shore Temple is also acknowledged for being the first stone structure made by Pallavas. Before this, the monuments used to be carved out of the rocks or stones. Unlike other monuments of the region, Shore Temple is a five-storied rock-cut structural temple more willingly than monolithical. In southern India, this is one amongst the earliest and most important structural temples. The spire is extensively decorated with carvings and sculptures. In the recent years, a stone wall has been constructed to protect the shrine from further sea-erosion.
Perched on a 50 feet square plinth, the pyramidal structure raises to the extent of 60 feet. Presenting a typical specimen of Dravidian temple architecture, Shore Temple generates an exclusive combination of history and natural splendor. The temple was designed to grasp the first rays of the rising sun and to spotlight the waters after sunset. Shore Temple served as "a landmark by day and a beacon by night" - aptly described by Percy Brown...."
If you have not visited this temple, you better do it soon....as this cute kid has decided to do......before sea erosion eats this up completely..!
The beauty of this beach may not be contained in words, but looks like it can be contained in a cage..!
I spotted this beautiful cart in the hotel adjacent to the shore temple fence on my way back ..!
One of the few places , I have visited more than once . As a policy i don't visit a place more than once . But one more visit to this place is pending.
ReplyDeleteYes..TGS, this place deserves more than a visit if one does not stay there for more than a day. I have the luxury of staying quite close and could visit this continuously for 2 week ends.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ash for stopping by..! You've got some lovely photos in your wonderful photo blog..But I am not seeing the Follow button on your blog..!
ReplyDeleteLovely... Very beautiful, typical southern style temple, grand and architecturally marvellous...
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic tour! Love the beautiful temple and beach and blue, blue water! And of course, the gorgeous blue skies!! I can't get enough of those! Thank you so much for your visit/comment, they're always appreciated! And now I have found your blog and have become a follower as well! Thank you for sharing the beauty! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Sridharan!!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Thanks a lot for stopping by Silvia..and for your wonderful comments. You too have a wonderful week end.. I am planning to visit this place (for the last time.!) this week end..!
ReplyDeleteThis was a very informative post Sridharan, apart from the obviously beautiful one :)
ReplyDeleteI regret so much not visiting them when I was in that area...
Thanks Siddharth...You would relish this wonderful place.I had ignored it far too long myself.
ReplyDeleteI have visited this many times. There is a Sthala sayana Perumal temple near the bus stand. Did you visit it. Beautiful photos. Last visit was in Nov. 2009.
ReplyDeleteYes..Chitra, I did visit Sthalasayana Perumal temple. Cute temple. I will write about it and post some pics too.
ReplyDelete