Caption: Cover Photo of Zone - 3 - Shore Temple.
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 29 is the parking lot, therefore it is not published separately as a POI.
The previous post (POI No -27) of this series about ’ Sri SthalaSayana Perumal Temple’ is Here.
The next POI No -31 is ‘Group of monuments’, Here.
This POI -30 - Shore Temple
Location: This POI comes in Zone -03, close to Mahabalipuram Beach & hence the Bay of Bengal.
Zone Map:
Photo - 1. Caption: India Map & the zone map of Zone - 3, Mahabalipuram.
This POI is the most famous of all the monuments, next to Arjuna’s Penance; from the car parking, one has to walk almost 10 minutes to reach the temple (the ticket counter is near the parking lot).
The Shore Temple, built in the late 7th century by Rajasimha is east facing, towards the ocean.
This POI is a very large complex with different structures & areas. The temple has three shrines and all are built on the same platform. Viewed from the northern end, the temples appear to be a replica of the Dharmaraja Ratha (referred in Pancha Ratha). The main deity of the first & second Temples is Lord Shiva (in Linga form) faces the East. The two temples are five-storied structural temples and not rock-cut caves. The temple walls have large sculptures of Nandi.
This pyramidal structure is 60 feet high and sits on a 50 feet square platform. There is a small temple in front. That too is made of finely cut local granite. The recent excavations have revealed new structures under the sand.
The deity of the third shrine is Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture and has water channels entering the shrine. There are many open areas (Clear in our Photos) and a lot of interesting sculptors!
Worth a place, to see in detail. There are many photoshoots happening here. Very close to the sea. The Garden, nearby Antique Shop, Paid Toilet, etc. are clean & Neat.
Very close is Thiruvalluvar Statue – On the narrow road leading to the Statue and the Beach, there are many eateries and Petty shops – Be careful in dealing, please.
Photo - 2. Caption: Facade of the Shore temple. Photo - 3. Caption: An elegant view of the temple. Photo - 4. Caption: A side view of the monument. Photo - 5. Caption: The view of the temple from the east side. Photo - 6. Caption: A view of the temple complex. Photo - 7. Caption: A sweeper cleaning the pathway of the temple. Photo - 8. Caption: Rear side of the structure. Photo - 9. Caption: The sand dune path towards the temple.
Photo - 10. Caption: A tiger statue on the side.
Photo - 11.Caption: Bull statues placed in a row on the fencing.
Accessibility: Sand dunes path, it is difficult to push the wheelchair through this path.
- The Google Maps link of the POI = Here
- Reference Link (Wiki) = Here
- Heritage Importance = 5/5
- Photographic Importance = 5/5
- Visit priority = Very Important
- Monument type = Structured
- The Duration to see the POI, = 60 minutes
- Entry: Adult = INR40, Foreigner = ₹350 & Camera – INR 20.(Kindly reconfirm the entry fee & visiting hour before your trip).
- Visiting hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm
- Photography: The temple is east facing & has shade - so choosing a time after 2 pm will be better to visit. All the panels are good collections - care to be taken for proper exposure as the light inside the sanctum is very poor; good for selfies & groups also.
- How to reach: By Railway: 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.
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