Witness the Art and Devotion of the Ancient Era with Mahabalipuram Attractions

Mahabalipuram is a beautiful town in Tamilnadu, India. Located in Kancheepuram district, the town has great history, which draws attention of tourist from various locations across the globe. Described in different legends and stories, this town is an interesting place to explore.

History

Evidences of the rich history of the town include cairn circles, megalithic burial urns, Chinese coins, Roman coins of Theodosius I and Pallava coins. All these articles are the evidences of the history of the town that dates back to 4th century. According to a legend, this ancient town got its name from Mahabali. He was a cruel king, who got moksha after losing a fierce battle with Lord Vishnu. The name Mahabalipuram was the gratitude of villagers on his death.

Attractions

Shore Temple

It is said that once there were seven temples in a row. Out of which, only one is left. Built during 7th century, the temple is a contribution of Narasimha Varman II. Credit of the architecture of this amazing temple goes to artisa
Rajasimha. It is one of the finest examples of Dravidian style architecture. Listed in the UNESCO world heritage sites, the temple is one of the oldest temples in south India. The temple has three buildings. In two of these, presiding deity is Lord Shiva whereas the third one is a Vishnu temple.

Five Rathas

Locally popular as Panch Rathas, it is a set of temples. Built in shape of pagodas, these are also carved in Dravidian style. Associated with great Hindu epic Mahabharatha, the temple has the charm that allures tourists from far-flung regions. Dedicated to the goddess Durga, the first temple is popular with the name Draupadi's Ratha. There are many other rathas that are named as Nakula – Sahadev Rath, Arjuna's Rath, Bhima Rath and Dharamraja Yudhistar's Rath. The largest amongst these is Dharamraja Yudhistar's Rath.

Arjuna's Penance

This is a popular rock sculpture. Carved onto a whale shaped rock, this speaks volume about the rich history of the region. Its 9 meter height and 27 meters length make it magnificent and worth visiting attraction. It has many carvings that portray a story. It is a fine example of art and the hard work of the artisans of the ancient times. Named after Arjuna, the great hero of the Hindu epic Mahabharatha, this is worth-visiting attraction in Mahabalipuram.

These are many other attractions in Mahabalipuram that make it popular among the travellers.