Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Dist. Kanchipuram

Mahabalipuram (or Mamallapuram) was a celebrated port city of the Pallavas. It has been identified as the port Melange mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea by an unknown Greek navigator of the first century A.D.

The monuments at Mahabalipuram are of different types like the rock-cut cave temples, monolithic temples, bas-relief sculptures and structural temples besides excavated remains of temples. The Pallava dynasty, which ruled this area between 6th-9th centuries A.D., patronised the creation of these wonderful edifices. Among them, Mahendravarman (AD 580-630), his son Narasimhavarman I Mamalla (AD 630-668), Paramesvaravarman (A.D. 672-700) and Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha (A.D. 700-728) contributed the most in developing Mahabalipuram as a centre of art and architecture. Many monuments remain unfinished.

The Monolithic temples

Structural temples

Excavated remains