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7 Monuments & Statues in Mahabalipuram That You Shouldn't Miss
Just 45 minutes out of the city, the East Coast Road first stops at the historic town of Mahabalipuram. The 7th century erstwhile port city is famous for its rock-cut shore temples. A lone lighthouse on a hill watches over a group of temples below. Mahabalipuram also has some great cafes that serve good sea food. A backpacker’s delight, one can find cheap accommodations and plenty of activities.
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1. Draupadi Ratha
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Donna_in_India - New York City, United States
Draupadi Ratha is the smallest of the Panch Rathas. This ratha is a replica of a thatched tribal shrine. It is dedicated to the Goddess Durga (Mother of the Universe). The highlight of the Draupadi Ratha is the Durga panel on the rear wall of the sanctum. It depicts devotees kneeling in front of a four-arm Durga. In a supreme act of self-sacrifice one of the devotees is shown in the process of cut his own head off.
2. Bhima Ratha
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Donna_in_India - New York City, United States
Bhima Ratha is the largest of the five rathas. This rectangular ratha has a barrel-vaulted roof, long columned porch, and an unfinished lower level. It's named after the Pandava bother who was known for his strength.
3. Dharmaraja Ratha
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Donna_in_India - New York City, United States
The Dharmaraja Ratha is a larger version of the Arjuna Ratha. It has three storeys and an octagonal dome roof, the shikhara. Similar to most temple roofs in India the roof covered with repeating elements. Sculpted panels are carved in the upper storeys of this ratha. On the lower level there are beautiful sculptures of Harihara, a composite form of Shiva and Vishnu. The left side of the body is Vushni, with a tapering crown. On the right is Shiva with matted locks of hair. Along with Harihara, another highlight of this ratha is a sculpture of King Narasimha, a Pallava king shown wearing a crown, a silk garment, and jewelry.
4. Nakula Sahadeva Ratha
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By ajapetrus - Mahe, India
Resembling a chariot, this incomplete structure that has been carved out of a single, long stone of pink granite, is dedicated to the supreme god, Indran. This rock-cut architectural marvel is empirically named after the last two brothers of the Mahabharata-epic-fame Pancha Pandavas. These twins, Nakula and Sahadeva were born to Madri, the second wife of Pandu, a king of the Kuru dynasty. Unlike the other four rathas in the Panch-ratha enclosure that are aligned side by side in a row, this one stands aside with its back, facing the entry gate at the North eastern end. The Gajaprishthakara (Sanskrit, meaning back-facing view of an elephant) of the Nakula & Sahadeva Ratha is more meaningfully illustrated with the marvellous sculpture of the life-size elephant, carved next to the ratha. Architecturally, the monolithic Dharmaraja, Arjuna and Draupadi rathas are square while the Bhima ratha is rectangular on plan, whereas Nakula Sahadeva ratha is apsidal (horseshoe-shaped), with dvi-tala (two-tiered) free standing structure. Like the others, the walls of Nakula Sahadeva ratha also have carved features arranged in a sequence to delineate the projections and recesses, created by pairs of shallow pilasters. The roof terminates almost in the form of a pyramid or shikara, which is also carved with motifs.
5. Arjuna Ratha
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Donna_in_India - New York City, United States
Next to the Draupadi Ratha is the Arjuna Ratha. The Arjuna Ratha is an elegantly carved two-storeyed temple. A highlight of this ratha is a carving of Shiva (Hindu deity - "the Destroyer" or "the Transformer") leaning on his mount, the bull Nandi. Royal couples and other carved figures adorn the outer walls.
6. Descent Of The Ganges
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 239 reviews
Reviewed By Tanumita - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
A beautiful piece of art carved on a monolithic rock. It is built on the same rock as Arjuna's penance and has a mythological and historical significance to it. The descent of the Ganges is depicted in the form of Cobras and it is an exceptional sculpture built during the Pallava rule.
7. Lion Throne Mahabalipuram Hill
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
