Caption: The Cover Photo.
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 previous post (POI No -09) of this series about ‘Krishna Mandapam**’** is Here.
The next POI No -11 is ‘Descent of the Ganges’, Here
This POI: Pancha Pandava Mandapam
Location: This POI comes in Zone -02;
Between Krishna Mandapa & Arjuna’s Penance is the Pancha Pandava Mandapam - (ie. a couple of minutes’ walk from the parking lot), which is one of the largest but unfinished cave- temples.
Zone Map:
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**Photo - 1. Caption: India Map & the Zone map of Zone - 2, Mahabalipuram.
It was built between the 7th and 8th centuries, under king Narasimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty. Pancha Pandava Mandapam is dedicated to Pandavas, the mythological characters from Mahabharata. Though unfinished, this cave temple is unique since its sanctum was designed to have a passage all around the exterior for Circumambulation.
This cave is a rectangular structure supported by pillars. The entrance is guarded by seated lions and upon walking further, one can see lion bases on the columns of the verandah too. There are 4 hollow chambers with a sanctum that is empty.
Though I have not seen it, it is said that a few columns have hidden lions and elephants; if you are visiting, kindly try to spot them.
There is greenery in the front of the mandapa.
Photo - 2. Caption: The Pancha Pandava Mandapam.
Photo - 3. Caption: Path leads to the mandapa.
Photo - 4. Caption: Carved pillars in the monument.
Photo - 5. Caption: Side view of the Shrines cells.
*
*Photo - 6. Caption: The Shrine’s cell.
Accessibility: This POI is easily accessible by Wheelchair as the monument is at the roadside.
- The Google Maps link of the POI = Here
- Reference Link (Wiki) = Here
- Heritage Importance = 4/5
- Photographic Importance = 4/5
- Visit Priority = Low
- Monument Type = Mandapam
- The Duration to see the POI, = 10 minutes
- Entry: INR 40 for Indians and INR 600 for foreigners (the same ticket is valid for all monuments in Zone -02, except for the Museum & Lighthouse)
- Visiting hours: 6 am to 6 pm every day. (Kindly reconfirm the ticket rates & visiting hours, prior to your visit)
- Photography: The temple is east facing & has shade - so choosing a time before mid-noon for better lighting - care to be taken for proper exposure as the light inside is very poor - tripod shots will give good results; good for selfies also.
Flash photography is prohibited in all the monuments of Mahabalipuram.
@AjitThite @Mohan7 @iorikun301 @SagarKulkarni @iamguni @KalyanPal @AmalVenugopal @Theenan @Sophia_Cambodia @plavarda
