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This quaint little town
of Mamallapuram is enriched with ancient and splendid sculptures.
Each of the beautiful works of art has a story to tell. Like the
large 27 m by 9 m bas-relief that narrates the tale of Arjuna's
Penance. Arjuna here, is shown standing on one leg to please
Lord Shiva into helping him win back the Pandava Empire. A
fascinating combination of humans, animals and celestial beings seem
to he rushing to the revered scene. Most prominent among them is a
4.8 m majestic elephant leading a procession. Also known as the
Descent of the Ganga, this impressive canvas portrays the
life giving River Ganges flowing out from its high source in the
Himalayas. Enchanting stories from the Panchatantra, are also a part
of this magnificent bas-relief.
The most renowned
landmark of Mamallapuram is the Shore
Temple. Standing alone
on the shore, this temple is protected by a wall constructed to
minimise erosion. It is believed that at one point in time there
were seven such temples, six of them were victims to the natural
elements of erosion.
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