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 -23) of this series about ’ Olekkannesvara Temple**'** is Here.
The next POI No -25 is 'Rock reliefs ', Here.
This POI :Sri Dharmaraja Mandapam
Location: The POI is closer to Krishna Mandap. This POI is a little inside & difficult to reach. The mandap can be accessed while walking down from Olekanneswara & taking a left deviation, before exiting the hill entrance gate; however, the POI is very poorly lit.
Zone Map:
Photo - 1. Caption: India Map & the zone map of Zone - 2, Mahabalipuram.
The Dharmaraja cave mandap (also known as the Atyantakama cave temple) is located on Mamallapuram hill, a few meters away from the Mahishamardini cave temple. This temple comes under the early Pallava cave temple architecture. It has a facade and two mandapas. Four-sided pillars create space for the mandapas. The facade consists of two pillars and two pilasters that separate the two mandapas.
The hall leads into three cells(shrine). The Shiva Linga is placed inside the central sanctum with two male Dwarapalakas (janitors). And the remaining two side cells were dedicated to Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu.
For photographers, it will be difficult as the ambient light is very poor.
Photo - 2. Caption: The Dharmaraja Mandapam. Photo - 3. Caption: Facade of the mandapam. Photo - 4. Caption: Steps towards the monument. Photo - 5. Caption: Closeup of the mandapam.
Accessibility: Easily accessible as the monument is at the roadside. But it is difficult to reach visitors with wheelchairs as there are many steps.
- The Google Maps link of the POI = Here
- Reference Link (Wiki) = Here
- Heritage Importance = 3/5
- Photographic Importance = 3/5
- Visit Priority = Low
- Monument Type = Cave Temple
- The Duration to see the POI = 5 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: Very dark area & hence opt for bright light - however, there is nothing much to shoot also.
Flash photography is prohibited in all the monuments of Mahabalipuram
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