About MAHABALIPURAM

Mahabalipuram was established as a town in 7th century by Pallava kings who ruled south of Madras. It became famous harbour town used for trading with many south eastern countries. The Pallavas built a number of structural temples. Since the temple is near the sea it is known as "Shore Temple". Mahabalipuram is named after the King  Mamalla (meaning the great warrior) also known as Narasimhavarman I, who ruled during the 7th century at the head of the Pallava Dynasty, who scooped out most of the rock cut temples and carvings at that place.

              The monuments may be subdivided into five categories.  Ratha temples in the form of processional chariots, monolithic constructions cut into the residual blocks of diorite which emerge from the sand.  Mandapa, or rock sanctuaries modelled as rooms covered with bas-reliefs. Rock reliefs in the open air illustrate a popular episode in the iconography of Siva, that of the Descent of the Ganges. Temples built from cut stone, like the Temple of Rivage.