Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram was an important port in the Coromandel coast developed by the Pallava kings during the 7^th century AD. It was during the reign of King Narasimhavarman, the greatest Pallava ruler, most of the temples were built. Narasimhavarman was fondly called as Mamalla (little wrestler) and the place was named after him, Mamallapuram. The Rathas and Mandapas were cut out from granite rock. The mandapas of Mahabalipuram resembles the rock-cut caves of Ajantha and Ellora. The Shore temple built later was of smoothened and shaped stones. The influence of some foreign sculpture can be seen in the construction of the temples in Mahabalipuram. Now-a-days it is a land of sculpture located in Chengalpet, Tamilnadu. The government has established a college of sculpture at Mahabalipuram to encourage local stone-cutters and to develop the art and sculpture.