The port city of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, was
once a port city of the Pallavas on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. It
is home to exotic monuments belonging to the times of Pallavas including
Sculptural Panels, Caves, Monolithic Rathas or Chariots and Temples.
However, it is the beach that gives the city its true beauty. The stone
marvels can be compared to the dressing of an already delicious
preparation. The robust earthly beauty full of life, the monumental
splendors and the sunny beach resorts along with a crocodile farm, snake
venom extracting centre and art and sculpture schools make it one of the
most interesting and desirable tourist destinations. Mamallapuram beach
is more known for its bas-reliefs and shore and cave temples than its
sands and sea waves. Wile on the way to the beach, one should certainly
visit the Dakshinachitra, a heritage centre that shows traditional
craftsmen and folk artists hard at work giving performances and
recreating the scenes of 19th century Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and
Andhra Pradesh.Shore Temple is surely the highlight of the beach. One of the oldest temples in south India dating back to early 8th century, it is built in Dravidian temple architectural style. Besides these, there is world's largest bas-relief known as Arjuna's measuring 27m x 9m, which looks like a huge whale-back ornamented with figures of gods and demigods, men, beasts and birds. Five Rathas or Chariots also known as the 'Pancha Pandava Rathas' are five monolithic temples, each built in its own unique style. Four of these Chariot temples are said to be made from a single rock formation. Last but not the least, Tiger's Cave is an open-air theatre of Mamallapuram situated on the seaside lending it an aura of peace. Cultural programmes are regularly held here.
