Can you believe it? I couldn’t!!
The exotic Taj Mahal, that has been the epitome of elegance and brings tourists from across the world and is one of the Wonders Of The World, coming second to a town down South is hard to believe but it’s true!!
As per the Indian Tourism Statistics Report 2022 that was released by the tourism minister, Mamallapuram, a town located 60 kms from Chennai has beaten the Taj Mahal in the number of foreign tourists. With a whopping 1,44,984 foreign visitors in 2022 it stood out, leaving the Taj Mahal in the second spot with 38,922 foreign visitors.
Mamallapuram which was also known as Mahabalipuram, or Seven Pagodas was founded in the 7th century by the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I along the coast of Coromondel which was a celebrated port city of the Pallavas. The name “Mamallapuram” is derived from the title “Mamalla” which means “the great wrestler” that was given to Narasimhavarman for his valiancy. The group of monuments that were designated as A UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 not only includes surviving monolithic temples, structural temples, bas-relief sculptures and rock-cut cave temples but also excavated remains of temples.
Known distinctly for its classical Indian architecture, the structures bear witness to the superior craftsmanship of the 6th century C.E. The craftsmen utilized the natural landscape of the region to carve out these edifices, which reflects their ingenuity.
Credited to be the first temples to have been introduced in the Dravidian style of architecture these monuments are sub-divided into five of the following:
1. Rock-cut Caves called The Mandapas
Most popular ones are Konerimandapa, Mahishmardhini cave, and Varahamandapa, Mahishamardhini, Bhuvaraha, Gajalakshmi, Tirivikrama, and Durga.
2. Monolithic Temples called The Rathas
Locally known as the “ratha” or the “chariot” as they resemble the traditional chariot of a temple, these are five monolithic temples hewn from granite and known as the Pandava Rathas are named as Draupadi Ratha, the Bhima Ratha, the Dharmaraja Ratha, the Nakula and Sahadeva Ratha, and the Arjuna Ratha, named after the famous family of five Pandava brothers and their wife from the epic “Mahabharata”.
3. The Rock Reliefs
Bas reliefs are created by sculpting a wall mount, accentuating the figures producing a 3D appearance on a raised 2D flat surface. There are four such ones in Mamallapuram of which the mostly noted ones are Arjuna’s Penance and Govardhanadhari.
4. The Temples
Introduced by King Rajasimha on a grand scale, the earliest of the temples is Mukundanayananar temple, followed by the Olakkanesvara temple which is located on a rock close to the lighthouse. They were also responsible for the Dravida Vimana that majestically infringes the sea and is popularly known as the Shore temple.
5. The Excavated Remains
Of the various unique structures that has been unearthed around the Shore Temple there is a miniature shrine, a Bhuvaraha image, a reclining image of Vishnu, and a well from the time of Pallava King Narasimhavarman Rajasimha’s reign (638-660 CE), all of which are found to be carved in the live bedrock.
Although it is hard to believe that this quaint town of Mamallapuram could pull more crowd that the Taj Mahal, it is no surprise that the tourists of today want to explore and understand the culture and heritage left behind by the various dynasties that shaped the history of India and visiting only the Taj Mahal is not enough!!
So, are you ready to take a trip to Mamallapuram to check out the exquisite craftsmanship of the 6th century? I totally am.
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