Locality:Mamallupuram (En route to pondicherry)
District: Kanchipuram
Type:Historical
Google map location: Mahabalipuram
Timings for visiting the shore Temple: 9 AM to 5.30 PM
Illumination Timings at shore temple:From sunset to 8 PM
Entry Fee
The fee is around Rs 15 for Indians and Rs 250 for foreigners
History
Mahabalipuram (Tamil: மகாபலிபுரம்) also known as Mamallapuram (Tamil: 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 7th 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 7th and the 9th century, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Trip
On Friday evening we decided to visit mahabalipuram. Even if I was born in Chennai and traveled through ECR many times ..this is was my first visit to shore temple so I was anxious .We four started in 2 bikes from nungumbakkam at 6:30 am and took the scenic ECR ( East Coast Road ), stopping at little beaches along the way.
Tiger Cave
It took around 2 hours for us to reach the tiger wave .They charge 5 rupees for parking in Tiger cave .The name `Tiger's Cave' may conjure up awesome images of tigers living in caves, it is far from it. It gets its name from a cave set apart among the rocks with a crown of carved tiger heads around the temple.
With the maintenance of the cave the responsibility of the Archaeological Survey of India, the space has now been neatly developed with lawns dotted by palm, casuarinas and other trees. The small hillocks and rocks offer a natural excuse for children and adults alike to climb and run around.
An Archaeological Survey of India board at the entrance outlines that the ancient monument is protected and quotes the rules on its preservation from damage. A significant step in maintenance is the presence of a guard who instructs people to throw waste in the bin in his presence. The rock cut cave temple with a Shiva Linga and a Nandi is at a corner of the Tiger's Cave complex, which a few visitors remember to visit. The temple is situated below ground level and hence the top of the rock that forms the roof of the temple is accessible for climbing. Sitting over the roof of the cave temple is a photographer's delight with rocks dotting the foreground, trees in the middle and the Bay of Bengal in the background.
From the Tiger's Cave premises, the beach is also accessible. For those who take a car to get there, besides the Rs.45 paid to and fro at the East Coast Road toll gate and the Rs.10 as car park fee, there is no other payment to be made for entry into the Tiger's Cave.
Arjuns Penance
After traveling for 1 Km we reach the entrance of Mahabalipuram where they charge again 5 rupees for bikes ...then traveling for few kilometers we can visit the Arjuna's penance.Measuring 96 feet long by 43 feet high ,the figure in the bas-relief interprets as Arjuna is standing on one leg performing an austerity Tapas to receive a boon from Shiva as an aid in fighting the Mahabharata war.
Five Rathas
Then we visited the Five Rathas(Pancha Rathas).The five monolithic pyramidal structured shrines are named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi.Each shrine is not assembled from cut rock but carved from one single large piece of stone.After visiting Five Rathas. we decided to go for lunch ..so we had chosen Mamalla hotel...The hotel atmosphere seemed to be fine but the service is disgusting ..the hotel service was very irritating they took around 1 hour to serve our orders.The cost is very expensive ..My advice is to try some other hotel instead of this .
Shore Temple
The Shore Temple (700-728 CE) is so named because it over looks the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD.Legend has it that six other temples once stood with it (Seven Pagodas).The Shore Temples configuration of the two Shiva shrines with the small Vishnu shrine in between illustrates an attempt to balance the different, competing religious requirements.The shore temple is very beautiful and after 6pm shore temple is Illuminated to give a spectacular sight of the shore temple.
On the way back we went to DELHI ECR Dhabha.....We where able to see emu and carry rabbits .The food was good but the place as not so clean.By 10:00 pm we reached back home .
