South of Chennai(Madras) on the shores of Bay of Bengal, Mamallapuram was once a port city of the Pallava rulers. The temples and rock cut sculptures of that period create a unique blend of history and natural beauty. The monuments of Mamallapuram are excellent specimen of Dravidian temple architecture and Pallava art.

The art in the marvellous monuments with sculpted panels, caves, monolith rathas and temples lay emphasis on robust earthly beauties, imbibed with life. The sculptures are breathtakingly real and artistic. The Pallavas were followers of Jainism but the conversion of Mahendra Vernman to Shaivism had drastic consequences on the future of Jainism and it also explains the Shiva and Vishnu temple at Mamallapuram.

The Shore temple is perhaps the most photographed monument in India after Taj Mahal. The temple is floodlit in the night and is a pure visual delight. The pleasure of watching the monument in light with cool breeze from the sea has no comparison. Mamallapuram attracts tourists from all over the globe to its monumental splendour and sunny beaches.

UNESCO has declared Mamallapuram to be a World Cultural Heritage site

All this has been carved from a SINGLE stone.

Here are some pics.

http://img96.echo.cx/img96/839/44wb.jpg

http://img127.echo.cx/img127/4651/58ld1.jpg

http://img215.echo.cx/img215/3743/61mz.jpg

http://img163.echo.cx/img163/3613/113ik.jpg

http://img256.echo.cx/img256/1527/94dj.jpg

http://img127.echo.cx/img127/3263/99uz.jpg

http://img228.echo.cx/img228/8783/15aq.jpg

http://img232.echo.cx/img232/208/25oo.jpg

http://img233.echo.cx/img233/3920/31ud.jpg

http://img127.echo.cx/img127/5377/40ff.jpg

http://img228.echo.cx/img228/5900/53nw.jpg

http://img221.echo.cx/img221/7972/64iw.jpg

For more pics and info, visit the thread for this in SSC India at

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=4123507#post4123507

:)

Mods, can you make the that :applause: for the first option, a typo by me.

wonderful masterpiece

beautiful monument 9.5/10

Farhan:Sour grapes. Please provide a reason why you gave it a three. It looks like you gave it a three out of sheer hate of India than anything else. Did you even look at the pics. Nobody in his/her right mind would give it a 3.

This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries,it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The monuments are mostly rock cut and monolithic and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order.


BELIEVE ME , they are made of single rock..

http://img19.echo.cx/img19/5336/13dc1.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)


http://img134.echo.cx/img134/1012/74em.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img122.echo.cx/img122/9209/83py.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img127.echo.cx/img127/1464/107yn.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img230.echo.cx/img230/1609/110oc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img233.echo.cx/img233/1145/124ht.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img253.echo.cx/img253/3316/131kb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img127.echo.cx/img127/6849/143cf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img253.echo.cx/img253/3346/153fb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img134.echo.cx/img134/5118/165hr.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/7889/170ch.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries,it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The monuments are mostly rock cut and monolithic and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order.


BELIEVE ME , they are made of single rock..

http://img19.echo.cx/img19/5336/13dc1.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)


http://img134.echo.cx/img134/1012/74em.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img122.echo.cx/img122/9209/83py.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img127.echo.cx/img127/1464/107yn.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img230.echo.cx/img230/1609/110oc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img233.echo.cx/img233/1145/124ht.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img253.echo.cx/img253/3316/131kb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img127.echo.cx/img127/6849/143cf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img253.echo.cx/img253/3346/153fb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img134.echo.cx/img134/5118/165hr.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img98.echo.cx/img98/7889/170ch.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

this is all made in one rok Mainnhonna!! amazing :eek:

wow 10/10

9/10

9/10

http://img223.echo.cx/img223/9687/18980183l8qv.jpg


http://img210.echo.cx/img210/8069/18980184l0rq.jpg


http://img226.echo.cx/img226/4192/18980191m4xc.jpg


http://img210.echo.cx/img210/5464/18980194l2vz.jpg


http://img208.echo.cx/img208/2352/18980187l3lq.jpg

9/10

great

:banana: - 1,0
The sculptures are fantastic,but there are better temples in India.

10/10 Very beautiful! Eye Candy!

:down: 3.5/10

8/10

9/10.

7/10

8.5/10

9,5/10

9/10

8/10

7/10

9/10.

7,5/10

:down: 3.5/10

Well your thought process perhaps offers a very good specimen for psychologists. Dont be so shallow buddy. This monument reflects human's perseverance and craving for excellence, look at it from that light.

8. :D

8.5/10

You can simply submit your vote and don't have to repeat it in the comment section just for the sake of boosting your number of posts

Farhan:Sour grapes. Please provide a reason why you gave it a three. It looks like you gave it a three out of sheer hate of India than anything else. Did you even look at the pics. Nobody in his/her right mind would give it a 3.

fella, if you feel so strongly about the 3, then you should not have put the 3 option on the poll, simple as. Farhan has the right to pick 3.

i personally believe its a nice place, very authentic and historical and given it 9.

8/10:)

Shore Temples, Mahabalipuram
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5271/5088140767899a21c01but3.jpg
Supersized Version of this Photo (http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=508814076&size=o)

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1141/5117103562fecf8d799bwi4.jpg
Supersized Version of this Photo (http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=511710356&size=o)

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4772/5074035014088210b5fbug9.jpg
Supersized Version of this Photo (http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=507403501&size=o)

Vahara Caves, Shore Temples, Mahabalipuram
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5008/5122942547f1126400cbsj2.jpg
Supersized Version of this Photo (http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=512294254&size=o)

Pancha Rathas, Mahabalipuram
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/8617/508816758e67e757d52bwb4.jpg
Supersized Version of this Photo[/b] (][b)

9/10

5/10

9/10

9/10

10. Excellent. Regards.

amazing! 10/10

9/10

9/10

7/10

10/10

7,5/10

8.5 :)

8/10