Mahabalipuram
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Mahabalipuram ( Tamil: மாமல்லபுரம் Māmallapuram [ ma ː ː mʌl əpuɾʌm ] ) or Mahabalipuram ( மகாபலிபுரம் Makābalipuram [ maɦa balipuɾʌm ː ] ) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, 55 km south of Chennai (Madras ) is located on the Coromandel Coast. The population is around 15,000 ( 2011 census ). In Mamallapuram there is one of the most important archaeological sites in South India with many buildings dating back to the Pallava period ( 7th to 9th century). The temple district of Mamallapuram heard since 1985 a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of this and because of its sandy beaches Mamallapuram is one of the main tourist attractions of Tamil Nadu.
The forms of the name Mamallapuram and Mahabalipuram are equally common. Mamallapuram is named after the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I. ( 630-668 ) named, which was the nickname Mahamalla ( " great wrestler "). The name is a corruption of Mahabalipuram, which refers to the mythical demon Mahabali.
Geography
Mamallapuram is located in the Kanchipuram district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal 55 km south of Chennai (Madras ), the capital of the state. Other important cities in the area are 67 km west of Kanchipuram and Pondicherry ( Pondicherry) 100 km south. In the immediate neighborhood is the place with the Kalpakkam nuclear power plant, five miles south of Madras.
By Mamallapuram leads the East Coast Road (ECR), which follows the course of the coast. There are numerous bus services to Chennai and Pondicherry. The nearest railway station is located 30 kilometers west in Chengalpattu.
History
Mamallapuram was the main port of the Pallava kingdom that rose in the 6th century AD, the strongest power in Tamil Nadu. The capital of the Pallava kings was the nearby Kanchipuram. Until the demise of the Pallavas in the 8th century Mamallapuram flourished through the flourishing maritime trade with Southeast Asia. During this time, the number of monuments Mamallapurams formed. The temples of Mamallapuram belong together with the derived also from the Pallava period temples in Kanchipuram of the oldest preserved buildings of south India. They form the starting point for the development of the Dravida style, which characterizes the Tempelbauarchitektur South India and radiated to Southeast Asia.
The tsunami after the earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 removed on 26 December 2004 off the coast of Mahabalipuram sand deposits and also led to a lowering of the sea level. This over and under water numerous archaeological finds were uncovered that may have been made by the former port city and a temple from the seventh century. The Archaeological Survey of India has started on 17 February 2005 with the underwater archeology.
Attractions
The coastal temple
The coastal temple (Shore Temple ) of Mamallapuram is located directly on the beach of Mamallapuram. End of the 8th century, built by the Pallava king Rajasimha Narasimhavarman II, he is one of the oldest stone temples in South India. With its temple tower ( Vimana ), which rises above the sanctuary, he was a major influence on the development of the Dravida style. Inside, the temple houses a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva with a linga and a side shrine to the god Vishnu, who is represented here resting on the mythical serpent Ananta.
According to the traditions of the coastal temple is the only one surviving of a complex of seven temples. The complex is said to have extended over ten kilometers along the coast. The temple, which has survived twelve centuries at its location near the coast, is now protected by a fence and breakwaters made of boulders from erosion. These established by the government of Indira Gandhi blocks could survive the temple the tsunami of 26 December 2004.
The five Rathas
In the Pancha Ratha or "five Rathas " is a group of five monolithic temples, one mile south of the town center situated. As Ratha a Hindu temple is called, which simulates a processional chariot. The five Rathas are after the mythical Pandava brothers from the Mahabharata epic - Yudhishthira ( Dharmaraja or ), Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva - and named their wife Draupadi.
Each of the five monuments, the middle of the 7th century during Narasimhavarmans I. were carved in one piece out of the rock has different style characteristics. At no time the temples were actually used, rather it seems that they should be simply experimenting with different architectural designs. The Dharmaraja and the Arjuna Ratha - be surmounted by a stepped pyramid with hemispherical statements. Thus they form the prototype of the temple tower ( Vimana ), which is characteristic of the early Dravidian style. The Bhima Ratha - has a barrel roof structure with an elongated floor plan, modeled on the Buddhist Chaitya halls. The design of the barrel roof was later adopted as a conclusion of the gopurams ( gate-tower ). No stylistic effect, however, had the Draupadi Ratha - which has the shape of a hut with a thatched roof, and Nakula - Sahadeva Ratha - which combines the elements of the Step Pyramid and the barrel roof. Just in front of the Draupadi Ratha - Two smaller Felssklupturen, one in the form of an elephant, the other in the form of a lion. Behind the Draupadi and the Arjuna Ratha - which are on a common platform, there is the bull Nandi.
Bas-relief " Descent of the Ganga "
The " Descent of the Ganga " is a arisen in the 7th century bas-relief. With 12 meters high and 33 meters wide, it is one of the largest (maybe the largest ) in the world. The relief is mostly interpreted as a representation of the descent of the goddess Ganga ( the personified river Ganges ). According to the Hindu mythology, the king Bhagiratha did the Ganges flowing from heaven to purify the souls of his ancestors. But things did not happen as planned and the king noticed that the river would flood the whole earth. Therefore, he repented with the aim to get help from Shiva to avert the expected disaster. So the God descended to Earth and defeated the Ganges, by letting him run through his hair. This miracle attracted a lot of beings that came to watch it.
The gap between the two rocks is the most famous part of the bas-reliefs; here we find the figure of Shiva. Among them are ruins of a water tank, which suggest that once this water has flowed, which should constitute the Ganges. In addition to numerous divine figures represents the relief the village life of India in the 7th century dar. In the upper part, the right of the gap, you can see the donor and patron Pallava king Mahendravarman ( 580-630 ) in the company of his three wives. Below is a Yogi - Cat to see in meditation pose, dancing around of mice. The scene depicts a figure of speech Indian folk wisdom advises to be wary of false sadhus.
This relief is sometimes referred to as "Penance of Arjuna ". The interpretation has not yet been clarified.
Additional points of interest
West of the center of Mamallapuram extends an elongated rock around 500 meters in length. Over this range numerous other monolithic temples and cave temples are scattered. Its most important are the Krishna Mandapa and the Dharmaraja - mandapa, the Mahishasura Cave and the Varaha Cave. They are all equipped with elaborate bas-reliefs. In the Varaha Cave are representations Varahas ( the eberförmigen Avatar of Vishnu ), Gajalakshmis ( the goddess Lakshmi flanked by two elephants), the goddess Durga and Trivikramas and Vamana ( an Avatar of Vishnu further ). The Mahishasura Cave boasts reliefs depicting Vishnu on the serpent Ananta dormant and Durga in the fight against the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The relief in Krishna Mandapa shows the familiar scene, lifts in the God Krishna Govardhana mountain.
A popular photo opportunity is located near " Krishna's Butterball ," a huge, lying on a rocky ridge boulder, which gives the impression of being able to roll down at any moment.
Economy
Mamallapuram is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Tamil Nadu. The place pulls both foreign visitors and local tourists, especially day-trippers from the nearby Chennai to. In 2011, Mamallapuram was visited by 3.2 million tourists. An important attraction for visitors is the annual dance festival, which in 2008 alone attracted 126,000 foreign tourists. The trend in visitor numbers is how, rapidly rising all over Tamil Nadu. In Mamallapuram, there are numerous hotels of different categories, and other tourist infrastructure. Much of the population lives Mamallapurams directly or indirectly from tourism.
In addition, Mamallapuram has traditionally been a center of stone carving. The artisans Mamallapurams produce partly for the Souvernirmarkt, but also for new buildings temples and the like. To maintain the traditional heritage of Masonry, was founded in 1957 in Mamallapuram, the School of Architecture & Art. Today, it is visited by 220 students. Furthermore, fishing is operated.