{"id":12968,"date":"2013-11-03T21:10:19","date_gmt":"2013-11-03T15:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/?p=12968"},"modified":"2017-02-09T13:00:52","modified_gmt":"2017-02-09T07:30:52","slug":"an-architectural-wonder-called-the-shore-temple-at-mahabalipuram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapsofindia.com\/my-india\/travel\/an-architectural-wonder-called-the-shore-temple-at-mahabalipuram","title":{"rendered":"An Architectural Wonder called the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Shore<\/a><\/p>\n

Location<\/b>: Shores of Coromandel Coast, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Overlooking the shore of the Bay of Bengal, this piece of sculptural excellence stands as an icon of Mahabalipuram. Ruins of a temple, monoliths, rathas<\/em> (chariots), and many pieces of art chiselled exquisitely out of rocks — every section here deserves appreciation. It is unique and gorgeous and its fascination charm is magical. It is the Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram.<\/span><\/p>\n

This legendary creation dates back to the 8th\u00a0Century AD, and was built during by the Pallava King Narasimhavarman II when Mahabalipuram was the trading port of the Pallava Dynasty. The Shore Temple is counted among the oldest stone temples of Southern India and was also declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Shore Temple consists of of three temples in its complex dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The main temple is a five-storeyed structure dedicated to Lord Shiva and is sculpted out of granite. The key attraction of the Shore Temple are the five chariots or the Pancha Pandava Rathas, four of which are named after the Padavas and the fifth\u00a0one is known as the Draupadi Ratha. Each of these Rathas is huge and distinct from the others, speaking of the aesthetic excellence of the artisans of that time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Entry fee for the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas: <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n