| State |
Tamil Nadu |
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| City |
Mamallapuram |
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| Airports |
Nearest airport at Chennai |
|
| Distance from Chennai |
60 Km/39 Mile |
|
| Railway Junctions |
Nearest railhead at Chengalpattu |
|
| Local Languages |
Tamil |
|
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Mamalipuram - Introduction
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Ma mallapuram, 60 km/39 Mile
south of Chennai, is an ancient seaside town, where you could see splendid specimens of
Pallava art which flourished from about 600 to 750 AD. The monuments of Mamallapuram, most
of them rock-cut, belong to the earliest phase of Dravidian temple architecture.
Mythological episodes, epic battles, demons, gods, animals, all vividly depicted on the
wall sculptures are breathtaking real and artistic.Though it is no longer a port
,Mamallapuram has retained its fame,thanks to the great Pallava artisans. It is among the
most outstanding examples of Dravidian art and architecture and the jewel in the crown of
the Pallava contribution to Tamil Nadu. In a land that is liberally strewn with some of
the best in temple art, Mamallapuram holds its own, and stands as a silent yet eloquent
witness to the glory of its creators and sculptors. Unfortunately most of the work was
left incomplete, and time and naturel have also eroded the remains of this once great
port.
Despite this, Mamallapuram's wonders in rock leave visitors enthralled, conveying as
they do, an impression of beauty, harmony, gentle wit and humour. The monuments are
floodlit at night and so it is possible to enjoy their beauty even after sunset. The
Mamallapuram dance festival is conducted every year during Jan - Feb. It is a month long
festival and dances are organised during the weekends. Classical dances such as
Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Odissi are performed by well known exponents of
the art.
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