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 POI 26 is the parking lot, therefore it is not published separately as a POI.
The previous post (POI No -24) of this series about ’ Sri Dharmaraja Mandapam**'** is Here.
The next POI No -27 is 'Sri SthalaSayana Perumal Temple ', Here.
This POI: Rock reliefs
Location: This POI -25 is a monument similar to Arjuna’s penance. This is visible from the road, like Arjuna’s penance, but between the lighthouse & (3 minutes walk from) Krishna Mandapam.
Zone Map:
Photo - 1. Caption: India Map & the zone map of Zone - 2, Mahabalipuram.
This could have been a duplicate of Arjuna’s Penance because of the natural & wide cliff. The work is in the very starting stage only. A very few carvings have been done, that too, it is in its primitive stage. Some repairing works have been done which are clearly visible.
Very little is known about this monument, even to the local people, other than the undocumented stories they tell us. But, a few photos with the Mamallapuram Lighthouse in the background will look good.
This is also very next to the 2nd parking slot of this area. Mamalla Bhavan, a famous Pure Veg restaurant is just a couple of minutes’ walk only.
Photo - 2. Caption: The Rock Relief. Photo - 3. Caption: Side view of the relief. Photo - 4. Caption: The lighthouse behind the monument. Photo - 5. Caption: Closeup of the rock relief.Accessibility: Easily accessible by the wheelchair as the monument is at the roadside.
- The Google Maps link of the POI = Here
- Reference Link (Wiki) =N/A
- Heritage Importance = 4/5
- Photographic Importance = 4/5
- Visit Priority = Normal
- Monument Type = Bas-relief
- 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: Open area (adjacent to the road) & hence any time is suitable. Suitable for different dance poses, sceneries & groups with the stone reliefs in the background; very good for selfies 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 in Mahabalipuram.
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