Shore Temple, Mamallapuram a.k.a Mahabalipuram

satishanu · October 8th, 2010, 05:10 PM

Shore Temple built during the reign of Narasimhavarman II (Pallava King) has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone (built with blocks of granite) temples of South India.

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

Arjuna's Penance

image hosted on flickr

Cave

image hosted on flickr

Five Rathas

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

Pic Courtesy: Porkbone, Flickr

Arasu · October 8th, 2010, 05:38 PM

What a beautiful temple! Full of grace and grandeur.

Can I request you to provide some details about the when it was built?

satishanu · October 8th, 2010, 05:52 PM

It was supposedly built during 8th century (700-728 AD) by King Narasimhavarman II. It is a 5 storeyed structure. It is believed that 6 other temples got submerged under the sea (supposed to be part of seven pagodas) by tsunami.

I am surprised you have not been there.

More details about shrines/deities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shore_Temple

Arasu · October 8th, 2010, 07:09 PM

Thanks. I had requested for the benefits of the visitors to this thread. I had visited this place during my school days. And later with a friend of mine who was studying medicine at Chengalpattu Medical College.

vishal · October 8th, 2010, 08:47 PM

"Beautiful" is an understatement for this complex ....It looks so full of legacy and has a peculiar ancient/mystic appeal to it

.. India is just awesome.

Marathaman · October 8th, 2010, 08:54 PM

This is one of the earliest known temples in TN and the beginning of the distinctive southern style, although it still reflects Gupta influence in the overall shape.

The Pancha rathas are a separate and older group - carved monoliths rather than built structures - believed to have been inspired by or simply copying the prevailing wooden architectural styles.

An interesting part is the barrel-vaulted roof on one of the rathas - that kind of architecture was used in Buddhist viharas of the time. Not only that, but the barrel-shaped structure situated on the top of late Chola-style gopurams are also believed to have been influenced by the barrel-vaulted roofs of the Buddhist era.

ExcitedforCWG · October 8th, 2010, 09:14 PM

Some of the pictures remind me of Gaudi.

flyinfishjoe · October 8th, 2010, 11:23 PM

Beautiful, I love the carved elephants.

Quote:

Originally Posted by satishanu

image hosted on flickr

"शॉर टैमपल"?

It would be better if they just omitted the Hindi altogether instead of just writing shaar Taimapal in Devanagari.

October 8th, 2010, 05:10 PM	#1
satishanu Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,741 Likes (Received): 157	Shore Temple, Mamallapuram a.k.a Mahabalipuram Shore Temple built during the reign of Narasimhavarman II (Pallava King) has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone (built with blocks of granite) temples of South India. image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr Arjuna's Penance image hosted on flickr Cave image hosted on flickr Five Rathas image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr Pic Courtesy: Porkbone, Flickr

October 8th, 2010, 08:47 PM	#5
vishal Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 816 Likes (Received): 15	"Beautiful" is an understatement for this complex ....It looks so full of legacy and has a peculiar ancient/mystic appeal to it .. India is just awesome. __________________ Gold-Pacific

October 8th, 2010, 08:54 PM	#6
Marathaman Indian Troll Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 13,307 Likes (Received): 728	This is one of the earliest known temples in TN and the beginning of the distinctive southern style, although it still reflects Gupta influence in the overall shape. The Pancha rathas are a separate and older group - carved monoliths rather than built structures - believed to have been inspired by or simply copying the prevailing wooden architectural styles. An interesting part is the barrel-vaulted roof on one of the rathas - that kind of architecture was used in Buddhist viharas of the time. Not only that, but the barrel-shaped structure situated on the top of late Chola-style gopurams are also believed to have been influenced by the barrel-vaulted roofs of the Buddhist era. __________________ India - Architecture and Nature \| New Indian Temples \| Indo-Islamic Architecture \| Old paintings, photos, etchings etc. of Indian cities \| Preserving Vernacular Architecture \| British Colonial Architecture \| Traditional Water Storage Structures \| Crumbling and Vanishing Old Towns Last edited by Marathaman; October 8th, 2010 at 09:05 PM.

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October 8th, 2010, 05:38 PM	#2
Arasu The King Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,758 Likes (Received): 92	What a beautiful temple! Full of grace and grandeur. Can I request you to provide some details about the when it was built?

October 8th, 2010, 05:52 PM	#3
satishanu Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,741 Likes (Received): 157	It was supposedly built during 8th century (700-728 AD) by King Narasimhavarman II. It is a 5 storeyed structure. It is believed that 6 other temples got submerged under the sea (supposed to be part of seven pagodas) by tsunami. I am surprised you have not been there. More details about shrines/deities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shore_Temple

October 8th, 2010, 07:09 PM	#4
Arasu The King Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,758 Likes (Received): 92	Thanks. I had requested for the benefits of the visitors to this thread. I had visited this place during my school days. And later with a friend of mine who was studying medicine at Chengalpattu Medical College.

October 8th, 2010, 09:14 PM	#7
ExcitedforCWG BANNED Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 319 Likes (Received): 0	Some of the pictures remind me of Gaudi.