Mahabalipuram Temple town is located at 58 km from Chennai. Mahabalipuram temples are fascinating because of their unique architectural and structural style of the past era.

Temples of Mahabalipuram reflect great sense of artistic work of Pallava rulers. These temples are regarded as the birthplace of unique new style of South Indian architecture.

Mahabalipuram temples can be divided into four categories on the basis of art: monolithic temples constructed in the style of rathas, caves temple called mandapa, the masonry temples and sculptured scenes or carved hill edge.

Monolithic Temples

Temples Mahabalipuram Locally called by the names of Rathas, these temples were constructed from top to bottom. Pyramidal vimana with sikhara at the top is the interesting and magnificent feature of monolithic temples. Mahabalipuram has total 8 monolithic temples- five Rathas at one place, Ganesha Ratha, Valayankuttai Ratha and Pidari Rathas.

Cave Temples - Temples Mahabalipuram

These temples are constructed by scooping hill from front to back. These caves temples are divided into inner and outer mandaps. Little modification in cave temples structure and architecture gave birth to Mamalla style.

Shore Temple

The most famous temple of Mahabalipuram was built in the 7 th century during the reign of King Narshima-Varman II Rajasimha.

This temple is the most complex temple of South India. Two shrines are placed one behind the other, one in east direction and other in west. A rectangular shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu while the former two shrines are dedicated to Lord Shiva separates these two shrines. There is a large open court located at the western end.

Stalasayana Perumaal Temple

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this is an ancient temple dated back to the Pallava period. It covers an area of 4 acres with a massive gopuram.

This temple has been mentioned in the Sangam period Tamil work Pattuppaattu.

Tiruvidandai Temple

Another Vishnu temple, located at 42 km from Chennai enroute to Mahabalipuram. It is also called by the names of Varahapuri and Sripuri.

Mahabalipuram Pilgrim Site - This temple covers an area of 2.5 acre and faces east direction. This temple contains features of Chola art. Main feature of the temple is 9 feet high image of Varaha Perumaal.

Tirukkalunkunram Temple

This Shiva temple located near Mahabalipuram is a group of 2 temples with grand towers and walls. The presiding deity of ground temple is Bhaktavatsalar and of hill temple is Vedagireeswarar.

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Mahabalipuram Temples Guide - Mamallapuram, situated 58 kms south of Chennai, is a very important tourist stop. From the thousand year old lighthouse situated there, one has a breathtaking view of the turquoise waters of the Bay of Bengal.

The lighthouse is not quite as one would expect. It is built on a little platform beautifully carved, perched on a rocky elevation where fires used to be lit a long time ago to guide the ships safely to port.

Mahabalipuram Temples India

Mahabalipuram Temple Information - The Shore temple is situated right on the shores of the beach away from the hustle and bustle of the main area. During high tides, this temple looks majestic with the gigantic waves crashing on it.

Below this rocky outcrop and the lighthouse, lies the little village of Mamallapuram. Built between the 8th and 10th century AD, it was a major sea-port of the great Pallava kings. Mamallapuram is today a marvellous open air museum displaying all the wealth of the Pallava craftsmanship. It has rock-cut caves and carvings set amongst the shadycasuarina groves. And a perfect little shore temple, ornaments its wide sun-drenched beach.

Mahabalipuram Temples Guide - Out of the other hill, much smaller and standing about 200m to the south, are fashioned five more rathas, and three big sculptures of a Nandi, a Loin and an Elephant. On the top of the bigger hill there is a structural temple, and a little distance the magnificent beginnings of a Vijayanagar Gopura and also survivals of what is believed to be a palace.

Cave Temples:
The cave temple is usually divided into inner & outer mandapas, distinguished by the difference in levels. Cave Temples were excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill. The scooping work starts from front to back. The front mandapa will have pillars & plasters numbering 4,6,8,10. The inner mandapa contains single, triple or five cells. The cave temple with little modification is categorized as Mamalla style. The pillars under this style are slender & taller with squatting lion at their base. The pillar is divided into distinct parts known as kalasa, tadi, kumba, padma etc.

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