Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Hyderabad: A monument complex popularly known as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is positioned on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Mahabalipuram is situated in close proximity to Chennai in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. The UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of rock-cut cave temples, monolithic temples, bas-relief sculptures, and structural temples as well […]
Hyderabad: A monument complex popularly known as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is positioned on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Mahabalipuram is situated in close proximity to Chennai in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of rock-cut cave temples, monolithic temples, bas-relief sculptures, and structural temples as well as the excavated remains of temples. The architectural magnificence of the 7th and the 8th century monuments makes Mahabalipuram a peerless illustration of ancient civilisation and beliefs. Read further to know about these monuments…
40 ancient monuments
The site has 40 ancient monuments and Hindu temples, including one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world, which includes the Pancha Rathas of Dharmaraja Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Draupadi Ratha, Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, and also Ganesha Ratha.
The group contains several categories of monuments: ratha temples with monolithic processional chariots, mandapa viharas (cave temples) with narratives from the Mahabharata and Shaivic, Shakti and Vaishna inscriptions in many Indian languages and scripts.
Pallava construction
The monuments were built during the Pallava dynasty. Known as the Seven Pagodas in many colonial-era publications, they are also called the Mamallapuram temples or Mahabalipuram temples in contemporary literature.
The site, restored after 1960, has been managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. The monuments dating back to the early 7th century includes the Mandagapattu inscription (Laksitayana inscription) of Mahendravarman I.
Characteristics
The monuments are a fusion of religion, culture and legend relating to the Hindu religious pantheon.
The 40 monuments vary in degrees of completion, categorised into five groups:
Rathas: The monolithic temples are locally called ‘ratha’ (chariot), as they resemble the processional chariots of a temple.
Mandapas: During the time of Narasimhavarman-I Mamalla, innovations were introduced in the rock medium in the form of cave temples.
Rock reliefs: The sculptural bas reliefs are another very important class of masterly creations created during Mamalla’s reign.
Structural temples: King Rajasimha introduced structural architecture on a grand scale. The earliest and most modest is the Mukundanayananar temple.
Excavations: Sustained removal of the sand over a period of time has brought to light several buried structures around the Shore temple.
There are ten major rathas, ten mandapas, two rock bas-reliefs and three structural temples. The monumental plan is based on a square and circle, or stacked squares (producing a rectangle).
Conservation
A plan to beautify Mahabalipuram was implemented in 2003. The Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture is financed the Integrated Development of Mamallapuram project.
The Archaeological Survey of India has laid the lawns and pathways around the monuments, and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has designed parks on both sides of the roads leading to the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas.
There are several famous temples at the Mahabalipuram including Krishna Cave Temple, Mahishasuramardini Mandapa, Araha Cave Temple, Pancha Pandava Cave Temple and structural temples including the Shore Temple and the Olakkannesvara Temple. The monuments got the status of UNESCO’S World Heritage Site in 1984.
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