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*Caption: The Cover Photo of Zone 2.
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 -21) of this series about ’ Mamallapuram Lighthouse ’ is Here.
The next POI No -23 is 'Olekkannesvara Temple ', Here.
This POI: Mahishasura Mardini Cave
Location: This POI comes in Zone -02, next to the Lighthouse & below the Olekanneswara Temple Rock.
Zone Map:
Photo - 1. Caption: India Map & the zone map of Zone - 2, Mahabalipuram.
The Mahishasuramardini cave or Mahishamardini mandapam is one of the most important monuments of Mahabalipuram. This rock-cut architecture was built in the 7th century during the era of the Pallava dynasty. It is excavated on the eastern side of the main Mamallapuram hill. Despite the temple being half-finished, the carvings of the temple are a gem in Tamil temple rock art. Markandeya Purana is majorly considered for the narrative of the panels.
Four pillars and two pilasters are seen in the front of the oblong mandapa. An incongruous, plain pillar is placed instead of one of its original pillars, which was moved to the nearby Adivaraha temple. And some parts of another pillar are ruined. The temple is a good example of parallel construction by many workmen. The interior artwork of the temple was finished before its facade details, ceiling or floor.
The central trapezoidal hall is connected by a mandapa of three shrine cells. The side shrine’s floor level is a little higher than the main shrine. The large rock relief of Somaskanda (with Lord Shiva seated in a Sukhasana (cross-legged) & Goddess Parvati near to him with the infant Skanda) is the main shrine. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya are standing behind them. One of the most intricately carved monuments in Mahabalipuram is the Mahishasuramardini rock relief. It is placed on the temple’s northern wall (right side panel). And the carving of the Anantasayi Vishnu narrative with Madhu and Kaitabha is placed on the southern wall. Really beautiful works.
Photo - 2. Caption: The Mahishamardini cave was built from a big rock. Photo - 3. Caption: Three shrines inside the cave. Photo - 4. Caption: A mandapam built for the main shrine. Photo - 5. Caption: The main shrine - Lord Shiva. Photo - 6. Caption: Rock relief of the main shrine - Lord Shiva. Photo - 7. Caption: Left most shrines in the cave. Photo - 8. Caption: Rock relief of Lord Vishnu located on the left sidewall. Photo - 9. Caption: The rightmost shrine in the cave. Photo - 10. Caption: Rock relief of Lord located on the right sidewall.
Accessibility: Easily accessible.
- 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 = Cave temple
- The Duration to see the POI = 15 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: 9 am to 6 pm every day. (Kindly reconfirm the ticket rates & visiting hours, prior to your visit).
- Photography: The lighting inside the mandapam is poor & need to take care. All the 3 sanctums are still dark. The side panel photos are very important. of course, suitable for selfies too (ref Photo No:4).
Flash photography is prohibited in all the monuments of Mahabalipuram.
@NareshDarji @Nyainurjanah @PattyBlack @Ramamoorthy123 @CAAG1959 @plavarda @AnshukMitra @SoniaK @Erna_LaBeau @indahnuria
