Introduction to city Mahabalipuram - In Tamil
Nadu
A soft pearly light dims the stars and lifts the
opaque veil of darkness from Mahabalipuram and the
pyramidal contours of a diminutive temple swim into
view silhouetted against a vast cathedral sky, like
a wondrous unreality spun out of early morning magic.
The colours deepen; the virginal blush of dawn smears
the sky. Delicate skeins of pale gold and searing
orange lie intertwined in intimate embrace across
the smudged horizon, suffusing the idle waters of
the Bay of Bengal—an unabashed foreplay of colours.
A thin hot wedge of vivid red emerges out of the
sea, growing every moment into a flaming, pulsating
disc that soon disowns the theatre of its birth.
The lone temple, that guardian of the shore, is
a becalmed spectator. It has been an apathetic witness
to this impassioned spectacle every dawn for the
last 1,200 years.
Mahabalipuram (or Mamallapuram, its ancient name)
is one of history’s intriguing enigmas. Situated
just 60 km off Chennai on the Bay of Bengal coast
in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Mahabalipuram
was a flourishing port town of the Pallava rulers
of South India who chiselled in stone a fabulous
open-air museum of sculptures under the vault of
a burning sky. That much is known. But was this
sculptural glorification a king’s fancy? A celebration
of war victories? A queen’s fantasy? No one actually
has any answer. The mystery of Mahabalipuram lingers,
unravelled, but its sculptural extravaganza is a
living testament of the virile artistic temperament
of the Pallavas who were trendsetters in South Indian
art.
SightSeeing : Places to visit in
destination - Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram with its picturesque location on
a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon is
a happy combination of history, good beaches, hassle-free
tourism and fabulous fish and lobster! Despite the
many visitors, drawn by the former Pallava dynasty
town, the place is friendly, relaxed, and the villagers
are remarkably unperturbed by their crowds of visitors.
Mahabalipuram is renowned for its series of charming
rathas and the spectacular carved relief depicting
Arjuna’s Penance. The magnificent Shore
Temple, built by king Rajasimha in the seventh
century, is a unique temple that houses the shrines
of both Shiva and Vishnu while the Varaha Cave
is a rock-cut mandapam with two incarnations of
Vishnu—Varaha and Vamana—besides scenes of kings
and queens. The Krishna Mandapam has a bas-relief
of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill in his
fingertips. Other important attractions of Mahabalipuram
include the Mahishasuramardini Cave, Kotikal Mandapam,
Ramanuja Mandapam, and the Dharmaraja Cave.
Excursions : Places nearby city -
Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is a part of the Golden Triangle
circuit of South India along with Chennai and Kanchipuram.
As such, it is generally visited in combination
with these two places. Kanchipuram (65 km)
is the synonym for some of India’s finest silk saris.
This dusty, small town, popularly called the Golden
Town of a Thousand Temples, is renowned for the
Kamakshi, Varadarajaswami, and Kailasanathar temples,
all more than worthy of a visit. And about the Kanchi
weavers, any ode would fall short! Vedanthangal
is the site of a bird sanctuary, one of India’s
largest, while Covelong is famous for its
golden beach and other historical monuments.
Mahabalipuram City Travel Guide |
Sight Seeing of Mahabalipuram | Excursion in Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram Travel Tours |
Mahabalipuram Hotels |
Picture Gallery of Mahabalipuram
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