Caption: The Cover Photo of Zone - 4.
#Mahabalipuram POIs & Accessibility -37 -Yudhishtir Chariot (Ratha) - Zone - 4 - TravellerG
Dear friends,
This post is a member of the Mega - Series of 51 posts, about Mahabalipuram, created as a Total “Photo-Walk and Traveller Guide” covering all the “Tourist Destinations” of Mahabalipuram. The 51 POIs are grouped into 4 Zones & a few stand-alone monuments according to the location of monuments. In other words, if one visits 4 zones, all the important POIs can be covered.
List of POIs & Headings - Here.
| POI | POI (Monument) Name | GMaps | TG Posts’ | Heritage | Photos | Visit | Monument | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Links | Links | IMP | IMP | Priority | Type | (Minutes) | |
| ZONE -1 | ||||||||
| 1 | Murugan Temple | Here | Here | 4 | 4 | Low | Structural | 15 |
Introduction to Mahabalipuram:
Mahabalipuram is a picturesque historical coastal city in Tamil Nadu around 60 km from Chennai. One of India’s oldest cities. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) stands at the top of the popular tourist destinations in Asia.
Mahabalipuram/Mamallapuram has its roots (records) from the Sangam age (1st century BCE). The Pallava kings ruled here from the 3rd to the 9th Century CE; the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I founded Mahabalipuram in the 7th century AD. Most of the important monuments are dated between the 7th & the 8th century AD. (Some interesting notes - Here).
The POI 36 is the parking lot, therefore it is not published separately as a POI.
The previous post (POI No -35) of this series about Tiger Rock is Here
The next POI No - 38 is ‘Bhima Chariot’, Here.
This POI: Yudhishtir Chariot
Location: Located very near the Bhima chariot, within the Pancha Ratha (five chariots) compound.
Zone Map:
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**Photo - 1. Caption: India Map & the zone map of Zone - 4, Mahabalipuram.
Yudhistir Chariot
The Yudhishtir chariot is also known as the Dharmaraja Ratha. It is a part of the five chariots (Pancha Ratha) that was built in the 7th century by Pallava dynasty kings Mahendravarman I & his son Narasimhavarman I continued the construction. Despite their efforts, the monument remained unfinished.
There is no connection between the monuments and Pandavas - from the epic Mahabharata. The ASI proposed that the structures are called Vimanas but the name of the Pandavas continued to connect with these monuments.
The Dharmaraja Ratha is the largest and architecturally alluring among the other chariots.
It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the structure is sculptured very elaborately. It has a three-storied vimana (the structure over the inner sanctum) facing west. There are two pillars and two pilasters in the facades of the structure’s four sides. The pyramidal shape of the structure has a terrace and a shikhara. The corners of the sanctum have sculptures of Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Skanda, Brahma and Ardhanarisvara.
Note: Try to avoid mid-noon for the visit as it will be very hot; the sand dunes become really hot.
Photo.2 - Caption: An Elegant view of the Yudhishtir Chariot (Ratha).
Photo.3- Caption: Facade of the chariot
Photo.4- Caption: Side view of the Ratha.
Photo.5- Caption: Rear side view of the monument.
Accessibility: It is difficult to push the wheelchair through the sand dunes.
- The Google Maps link of the POI = Here
- Reference Link (Wiki) = Here
- Heritage Importance = 5/5
- Photographic Importance = 4/5
- Visit Priority = Very Important
- Monument Type = Ratha (Chariot)
- The Duration to see the POI = 10 minutes.
- Entry: Adult = INR40, Foreigner = ₹350 & Camera – INR 20.(Kindly reconfirm the entry fee & visiting hour before your trip).
- Official Visiting hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm.
- Photography: All times except mid-noon is suitable for photography; a wide-angle lens is needed if you want to cover all the monuments in the compound - shoot from the South-East corner. The Interior of the monument has poor light.
- How to reach: By Railways: Nearest Railway stations are Chengalpattu (29 km) and Chennai (48 km) well-connected with many Indian cities. By Airways: Chennai International Airport (55 km) away from Mahabalipuram. By Road: Private/Public bus services can be availed from many cities of Tamil Nadu and South India including Chennai and Chengalpattu to reach Mahabalipuram.
Flash photography is prohibited in all the monuments of Mahabalipuram.
@indahnuria @CAAG1959 @plavarda @Ramamoorthy123 @PrateekAgarwal @Mukul_Anand @abhishekpatk @PattyBlack @Arati @C_T
