Mahabalipuram is a small cozy town on the coast of the Bengal Bay. Town, though small, but very old and with an interesting story - and most importantly, with interesting and unusual attractions. That's what they are talking below. The main historical objects of the city are even added to the UNESCO lists - it says about many things, isn't it? Objects, mostly carved from the monolithic rock, are early objects of Dravidian architecture: cave temples, monolithic rants (chariots), sculptural reliefs and structural temples. All the main sights of the city can be bypassed over the whole day, but if you stay in Mahabalipuram for a longer time (after all, it is also a good resort town with a beach and fish restaurants), then stretch a pleasure for several days. In general, here are the main attractions of the town:
Temple of Thirukadalmallai (Thirukadalmallai, or the temple of Sthalasayana Perumal)
The temple in the Dravidian architectural style is devoted to God Vishnu. It was built in the years of the reign of Pallavov (in which most of the interesting objects of the city were erected). According to the legend after the construction of this temple, the rest of the architecture of the village was protected from coastal destructive waves. The temple is considered a place where the Vaisnava Tamil Saint Bhutam (or Punches) was born. The temple is open from 6 am to noon and from 3 days to 20:30. Every day there are a number of rituals and annually ten festivals. Among them are the most magnificent - Bhoothatazhwar Avata, which is celebrated in October-November.
Five Rathas (Pancha Pandava Rathas)
Or the famous five chariots that were cut out once from solid stone. An excellent sample of such an architecture of India to 7-8 centuries (after this temples began to build). Rathi are on the road from the city, on a fenced territory. Rathi These are small outdoor "structures", the inner and outer surfaces of which are richly decorated with baschers with gods depicted on them. Of the five rants, two are not finished. There can be a stone lion between the chariots, and behind it is an elephant in full size. The entrance to these chariots is paid (about 250 rupees). By the way, these temples are very clearly visible through a low fence, and someone is enough.Street sculptors
The path to five Ratham passes through the so-called street of sculptors. Be sure to walk along this dusty street - although I suppose, do not go through it and it will not work. The fact is that sculptors live and work here, which are inspired by the natural beauty of India and Divine topics. It's all very similar to some very elegant exhibition. Surprisingly, as a piece of gray inephant granite turns into tender bends of some other Hindu goddess! By the way, this is not the only street in the city where you can see beautiful sculptures. The whole city is filled with sculptures of different colors and size: other streets, thresholds of houses, shops and restaurants. Well, on this street, you can buy some products and acquire - for example, tiny pretty Madalon sizes with a phalanger of the finger and vice versa, a 2.5-meter sculpture (just to give it!).
Bas-relief "descent of ganggie" and oil ball Krishna
This bas-relief may seem not so impressive. But he is three meter and is right at the road at the back wall of the main temple.
To the left of the relief - the mandapa (an opening room with columns), the inner wall of which is richly decorated with reliefs, and the front-arm - columns are just the same. Maybe it looks not so saturated and magnificent, but still, interesting, in my opinion.
On the right of the relief is the park, on the hodgepiece of which the giant boulder is located - this is the so-called Oil Ball of Krishna.
From under it down the hill rides like we in the winter on the slides, the local baby. On the hills of the park you can see a few more mandap. All these objects are located on the territory of one fleet with numerous tropical trees and, alas, the mountains of the garbage. Here you can find a nice lawn in the shade of trees and eat. Next there are several shops with food. This beauty is possible in a calm pace to get around and put pictures for two hours. At 6 pm, all visitors of the park are expelled.
Coastal Temple (Shore Temple)
This temple has not been preserved very well, since his long-century "busali" waves, and then absorbed the tsunami at all. After a terrible catastrophe, the city administration was ordered to build a dam separating the temple from the sea in the name of the safety of the sights. This temple from granite blocks dates back to the 8th century (as more precisely, then in 700-728 AD) - so, this is one of the oldest temples in South India. The complex has three towers that come out on a platform, an obscured by a low wall: one big tower and two small. It is very sorry, but beautiful reliefs on the walls of the structure were practically destroyed due to winds, sand and sea.Lighthouse
Lighthouse in Mahabalipuram was built as much as in 1894. And this, by the way, is not such a boring attraction. Moreover, some tourists and at all this lighthouse is most of all from all objects of the city. More precisely, Located on its first floor of Mahishasuramardini cave, the walls of which are decorated with sleeping Vishnu and Durga, fighting with a demon. These images seem more lively or especially compared to the local domain of stone gods. Be sure to visit this lighthouse - remove there, admire the magnificent panorama of the bay and surroundings, covered with boulders and lush vegetation slopes, plains with rocks of rocks and hundreds of dragonflies that sparkle wings in the air. Next to the lighthouse a bunch of winding tracks and flowering trees, where you can just wander or sit in Thawing next to monkeys, of course (where in Asia without them!).
Cave Temple Cave Temple (Varaha Cave Temple)
This temple is also sometimes called Adivaraha temple (Adivaraha). Another excellent example of monolithic temples carved at the end of the 7th century (it is also in UNESCO lists). The most famous sculpture in the cave is Vishnu's God in the avatar of Varach (Kabana, in general). Also in the temple there are many other carved mythical figures.
