The world-renowned town of Mahabalipuram is at a distance of 55
kilometers from Chennai. The journey between the two destinations
of the golden triangle of southern India is full of spectacular
sights. The journey is no less than a joy ride. The lovely seaside
was the capital of the Pallavas dynasty. On your golden triangle
tour the shore temple, the largest bas-relief in the world called
Arjuna’s Penance and the famous and beautiful mandapams are
what will be most eye-catching. Arjuna’s Penance, a complicated
piece of work on a vertical rock is one of the best preserved. The
creative architecture of the fifth and eighth centuries stand in
testimony to the virile artistic temperament of the rulers who were
trendsetters in south Indian art.
»Tourist Destinations
» Arjuna's
Penance
Arjuna's
Penance, 27 mtrs long and 9 mtrs high, is a colossal relief made
on two huge boulders. It is perhaps the world's largest bas-relief,
a universe itself in stone. The cleft in the rock describes the
descent of the Ganga, brought to earth by King Bhagiratha to emancipate
the cursed souls of his forefathers. The two large elephants are
notable for their artistic beauty, and so are the images from the
Panchatantra. Amongst the images are a forest with tribal people
and all forms of animal life, just as they would appear in their
habitat. Also, the images presents women clothed in an aura of ineffable
grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The
entire picture has a delicate edge of humor. Accordingly positioned
against the ascetic is a cat doing rigorous penance too.
»Caves
The Varaha Cave, a small rock-cut mandapam (hall), is a faceted
and finished gem with two incarnations of Vishnu-Varaha (boar) and
Vamana (dwarf). Particularly remarkable here are four panels of
the famous Pallava doorkeepers. There is about them a mood of contemplative
reverie, a lyrical softness and subtle grace totally at variance
with the primordial machismo their role as guards of the gods imposes
on them. The Mahisasurmardini Cave (17th century) has fine bas-reliefs
on its panels of endless beauty. The Dharmaraja Cave, built in the
early 7th century, consists of three empty shrines.
»The
Rathas
A
group of structures lying at the southern extreme of Mahabalipuram,
amidst the casuarina grove, are the famous Rathas (chariots). Known
as the Pancha Pandava Rathas, these Rathas are five in number. Out
of these, four are carved out of a single rock, while the fifth
on the west is scooped out from a small rock. The square Draupadi
and Arjuna Rathas, the linear Bhima Ratha, the taller Dharamraja
Ratha and the apsidal Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha, constitute the complex.
»Mahishamardini
Cave
The
Somaskanda sculpture in the Mahishamardini Cave radiates peace,
power and wisdom while Lord Vishnu in omniscient repose is a masterpiece
of dhwani (the art of suggestion) perfected by the Pallava sculptor.
Feeble sunlight glimmers on panels of classical beauty.
»Shore
Temple
The
Shore Temple at the Mahabalipuram sea-shore is the ultimate expression
of Mahabalipuram. A three-in-one abode of God - a Vishnu temple
positioned between two Shiva temples, is a treat to the eyes with
its surroundings plentiful in architectural grandeurs. On either
side of it is the sea spreading endlessly and infinitely. The complex
wall of this temple is decorated with charming sculptures of Nandi
the bull, while the figure of Vishnu is present in the sanctum sanctorum.
»How
to reach Mahabalipuram
By Air
: Nearest Airport is at Chennai 76 kms.
By Rail : The nearest railway station, Chengalpattu, is around 29
km away from Mahabalipuram. Trains connect it to and from Chennai
and several other major cities of South India.
By Road : Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is well connected by roads
to Chennai, Tirukkalikundram or Pakshithirtham, Kanchipuram, which
is 65 km from here and and Pondicherry.
