King Rajasimha built this exquisite temple over 1,200 years ago in the 7^th century A.D. It has three shrines; one dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the other two to Lord Shiva. The frothy waves form a striking backdrop to the temple, protected by rows of rock-carved bulls.

The Most Unique feature of the temple is that it houses shrines to both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The 2.4 in long bas-relief of Lord Vishnu reclining on his serpent conch can be seen in his shrine. The 16-sided granite lingam in one of the chambers is said to have touched the ceiling once. The entrance is guarded by deities and the temple was given the World Heritage listing a few years ago. A classic example of the best Dravidian architecture, the unique temple will leave you in awe of the sculptor's talent.

Also worth seeing in Mamallapuram are the eight magnificent Mandapams - caves carved out of the hillside with splendid sculptures and pillars. Each of the shallow temples has five bas-reliefs with scenes from Hindu mythology and two of them remain unfinished.

In the Krishna Mandapam, the bas-relief shows Lord Krishna sheltering the shepherds and their cattle from the fury of the Rain God Indra with his enormous umbrella.

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