Mahabalipuram - the small stretch of land!
Last week we were off to Mahabalipuram, little over 350 kms from Bangalore. Although we were planning the tour since long, but couldn't get it done. But on monday last, the last day of April, while we were cozily lying on bed, trying to sleep we decided we should just get going the very next day! Immediately all three sets of eyes were wide open and we were trying to make a last minute hotel booking. Though there are many hotels, mostly three stars and below, all seemed to be heavily packed. However, we managed to book one which appeared decent enough for the next day! For the remaining 2 nights and 3 days we got one of the four star hotel booked. Bags packed we left the next morning!
The next day there was a heavy downpour in Bangalore. I woke up to the intimation of my maid's entry into the apartment. It was 6.25 am. The rain outside was sort of dampener but I thought like always Bangalore rains would stop soon! So I got on with my morning rituals and woke up my spouse too. Surprisingly, he woke up too. He was also excited.
We started around 10.30 am. Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram (as its locally called), is a stretch of land between the Bay Of Bengal and the Great Salt lake. It is a small town in the state of Tamil Nadu. On our way, we had to cross Andhra Pradesh too! So basically the tour took us through three different states - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The roads in Tamil Nadu are much better than that in Andhra or Karnataka.
Like in all my articles, let me state the top ten places one could visit in Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram has quite a few monuments dating back to the reigns of the Pallava Dynasty. In the colonial era publications, these temples and monuments were referred to as the Seven Pagodas. Basically erected during the 7th and 8th Century CE, these monuments are now declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
10. Light House - This light house built in 1887, and open to public since only 2011, is a natural stone made tower. Next to it stands the light house built during the days of Pallava, in 640 AD. That one is a protected monument by UNESCO.
9. Crocodile Park - This zoo and herpetology research station is a treat to the eyes! Swampy waters and crocodiles and more crocodiles lying around lazily! They also have a few turtles and tortoises.
8. Krishna's Butter Ball - Although the name is soft, its actually a gigantic granite boulder, around 6 meters in height and 5 meters in width and estimated weigh of 250 tons! Its said to be at the same place for 1200 years, inclined on another rocky slope. It got its name probably because it has the look of a ball similar to butter ball that Lord Krishna used to steal from his mother's butter handi. There had been failed attempts to move this during the reign of Pallava king Narasimhavarman and another one by Arthur Havelock in 1908 using elephants.
7. Tiger Cave - A temple cut out of rock, with mainly tiger faces engraved on it, is located in Saluvankuppam. This temple is also maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
6. Sea shell and 3D paintings Museum - I bet you have never seen as many sea shells under a single roof in India as you would get to see here. Shells - of all sizes, small, tiny, big, bigger, biggest! And shapes - in all possible shapes, even heart shaped! Lovely and intriguing they were. The 3D painting gallery was no less. The paintings were brought to life, literally.
5. Descent Of the Ganges - this open-air rock relief is curved on two monolithic rock boulders. Its 29 meters tall and 13 meters width. It shows the Ganges flowing into the earth from heaven led by Bhagirathi. The carvings on this stones are beyond one's imagination in today's world. They are so magnificently done, that anyone would be at a loss of words to describe it.
4. Dinosaur Park - Appeared to be just a model park with a few dinosaurs here and there and some plants and grass, but the moment the music is played, believe me, I literally shouted in fear! The dinosaurs started moving their heads, winking eyes, shooting water out of their mouth. It almost felt like being amongst real dinosaurs in Jurassic Park!
3. Pancha Rathas - Pancha Rathas is yet another example of the monolithic rock carvings of the Pallava dynasty. Built during the 7th Century AD, there are five structures, believed to be 'rathas' or chariots dedicated to the five Pandavas and their single wife, Draupadi. These are yet another paradigm of the alluring monolithic rock carvings.
2. The Shore Temple - The Shore Temple is named so as it overlooks the Bay of Bengal. Constructed in the 8th century AD, this temple is made of blocks of granite. The temple is surrounded by many Nandis, giving an idea that its a Shiv temple. Most of it is in ruins now. But the deity is still fine and recognizable. This temple too is under the Archaeological Survey of India and preserved by the UNESCO.
1. Sea - Do I even need to say anything about this? Obviously, we visit places with beaches for the sea!!!!! The waves, the sound, the shells, the spiders, the wandering dogs and the bikinis!
Till we travel more...
**All rights reserved
The next day there was a heavy downpour in Bangalore. I woke up to the intimation of my maid's entry into the apartment. It was 6.25 am. The rain outside was sort of dampener but I thought like always Bangalore rains would stop soon! So I got on with my morning rituals and woke up my spouse too. Surprisingly, he woke up too. He was also excited.
We started around 10.30 am. Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram (as its locally called), is a stretch of land between the Bay Of Bengal and the Great Salt lake. It is a small town in the state of Tamil Nadu. On our way, we had to cross Andhra Pradesh too! So basically the tour took us through three different states - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The roads in Tamil Nadu are much better than that in Andhra or Karnataka.
Like in all my articles, let me state the top ten places one could visit in Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram has quite a few monuments dating back to the reigns of the Pallava Dynasty. In the colonial era publications, these temples and monuments were referred to as the Seven Pagodas. Basically erected during the 7th and 8th Century CE, these monuments are now declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
10. Light House - This light house built in 1887, and open to public since only 2011, is a natural stone made tower. Next to it stands the light house built during the days of Pallava, in 640 AD. That one is a protected monument by UNESCO.
9. Crocodile Park - This zoo and herpetology research station is a treat to the eyes! Swampy waters and crocodiles and more crocodiles lying around lazily! They also have a few turtles and tortoises.
8. Krishna's Butter Ball - Although the name is soft, its actually a gigantic granite boulder, around 6 meters in height and 5 meters in width and estimated weigh of 250 tons! Its said to be at the same place for 1200 years, inclined on another rocky slope. It got its name probably because it has the look of a ball similar to butter ball that Lord Krishna used to steal from his mother's butter handi. There had been failed attempts to move this during the reign of Pallava king Narasimhavarman and another one by Arthur Havelock in 1908 using elephants.
7. Tiger Cave - A temple cut out of rock, with mainly tiger faces engraved on it, is located in Saluvankuppam. This temple is also maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
6. Sea shell and 3D paintings Museum - I bet you have never seen as many sea shells under a single roof in India as you would get to see here. Shells - of all sizes, small, tiny, big, bigger, biggest! And shapes - in all possible shapes, even heart shaped! Lovely and intriguing they were. The 3D painting gallery was no less. The paintings were brought to life, literally.
5. Descent Of the Ganges - this open-air rock relief is curved on two monolithic rock boulders. Its 29 meters tall and 13 meters width. It shows the Ganges flowing into the earth from heaven led by Bhagirathi. The carvings on this stones are beyond one's imagination in today's world. They are so magnificently done, that anyone would be at a loss of words to describe it.
4. Dinosaur Park - Appeared to be just a model park with a few dinosaurs here and there and some plants and grass, but the moment the music is played, believe me, I literally shouted in fear! The dinosaurs started moving their heads, winking eyes, shooting water out of their mouth. It almost felt like being amongst real dinosaurs in Jurassic Park!
3. Pancha Rathas - Pancha Rathas is yet another example of the monolithic rock carvings of the Pallava dynasty. Built during the 7th Century AD, there are five structures, believed to be 'rathas' or chariots dedicated to the five Pandavas and their single wife, Draupadi. These are yet another paradigm of the alluring monolithic rock carvings.
2. The Shore Temple - The Shore Temple is named so as it overlooks the Bay of Bengal. Constructed in the 8th century AD, this temple is made of blocks of granite. The temple is surrounded by many Nandis, giving an idea that its a Shiv temple. Most of it is in ruins now. But the deity is still fine and recognizable. This temple too is under the Archaeological Survey of India and preserved by the UNESCO.
1. Sea - Do I even need to say anything about this? Obviously, we visit places with beaches for the sea!!!!! The waves, the sound, the shells, the spiders, the wandering dogs and the bikinis!
Till we travel more...
**All rights reserved
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