World Of Arts & Culture Mamallapuram
Also called as Mamallapuram, Mahabalipuram is a 7th century port city housing heaps of historical monuments. Due to its distinguished rock-cut architectural beauty of its vast complex, Mahabalipuram has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Dating more than one thousand years back, the historical city of Mahabalipuram is the part of golden triangle of Southern India, which adds more popularity to its pride.
Lying 60 km south of Chennai (state of Tamilnadu), the historical monuments of Mahabalipuram were built by various kings of Pallava dynasty between 7th and 9th century. The finest example of Pallava arts, the monuments of Mahabalipuram belong to early stages of Dravidian architecture. Located on the lovely and panoramic sea-side, the small town still conceals the same innate charm, which it had 1400 years ago. .
A visit to this small historical town, endowed with several of Hindu mythologies and gifted with vast complex of architecturally and sculpturally excellent monuments, takes one to a world of wonderland. The rock-cut architecture applied in its structural buildings like palaces, pavallions, temple chariot shaped shrines let one keep falling deep into amazement. Having the largest number of earliest temples, Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram or The Land Of Bali lets tourists witness the affluence of art and architecture of South India.
Must See & Do !
Shore Temple: The Pallava craftsmanship is best to see here. Interestingly, the temple has shrines of both lord Vishnu and Shiva. Vimana, Gopuram and animals figures carved on walls are best watch to get stunned.
Mandapas: The hall’s Mandapas or pillars having deity figures inscribed on it are another superb introduction to Pallava art rock-cut architectual acumen. Don’t forget to see and scrutinise the famous pillars like Ganesha Mandapa, Varaha Mandapa and Pandava Mandapa.
Rathas: Modelled on a Buddhist monastery, eight rathas, another architectural wonder, are figure of temple chariot shrine, and are cluttered with several mythologies
Dance festival: The best time to visit this ancient town is indeed during the dance festival (beginning on 25th of December every year) organised by the Department Of Tourism. Classical music and dance forms – Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Odissi and other folk dances come to its height during the fest.
Next stop was Mamallapuram which I have already visited before, on my first big trip around India in the spring of 2005. Some might remember my post from that visit. This amazing green fly I spotted in a souvenir shop window just after arrival, and I thought it looked very cool sitting there on a small bronze statue.
But of course Mamallapuram is not primarily known for it's population of metallic green flies. Rather it is famous for it's amazing rock temples and rock carvings. This is one of many small temples cut entirely out of the rock. Nothing has been added to the original rock and it's all in one piece. Pretty cool stuff.
Since I knew the place in advance and we were on a tight schedule I showed around some of the group tolet them see the best spots, which they would otherwise have missed. Here we made it to a human size stone altar crowned by a lion in the end. I have no idea what it was actually for, but imagine it could be a sacrificial altar. Of course that is probably just my imagination going a little wild - I haven't heard any stories of such sacrifices being made here
And here is one of the very most important pieces of work in Mamallapuram. An amazing stone relief called Arjuna's Penance. It is 12 metres tall and 30 metres wide although I couldn't capture the whole thing in one frame. The elephants are very close to life size! It is quite extraordinary really.
And I thought it would be interesting to contrast Arjuna's Penance with a more modern one, showing India as a developed state with satelites, oil drills and steel mills. This relief is found at the memorial for Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian Prime Minister and son of legendary Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He got murdered by a Tamil suicide bomber in 1991 as revenge for India's military involvement in the Sri Lankan civil war.
