About

The Shore Temples of Mahabalipuram are located approximately 58 kilometres from Chennai on the Coromandel Coast, of the Bay of Bengal. These temples were built under the reign of the Pallava rulers. The striking feature of these temples is that they are all carved out of rock.

Mahabalipuram also boasts of the temple cluster known as the Pancha Rathas (Five Charriots), which like about a mile south of the Shore Temple, and a little further inland. These five temples are dedicated to the Pandavas - including the Dharamaraja Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Bheema Ratha, Nakula-Sahadeve Ratha, and the Draupadi Ratha.

About half-a-kilometer to the west stands a complex of temples and cave temples, the most prominent feature of which is a large, open-air-bas-relief sculpture depicting the legend of Arjuna's Penance or the Descent of Ganga. The legend depicted in the relief is the story of the descent of the sacred river Ganges to earth from the heavens led by Bhagiratha. There is a large perpendicular fissure in the rock which is naturally occuring. This has been incorporated into the overall scene to give the impression of the Ganga descending from the head tied dreads of Shiva. A water tank was once located at the top of the rock, and when water was released from the tank, it created an impression of the Ganges cascading over the sculpted elements.
Bhagiratha can be seen in the scene just to the left of the cleft, standing on one leg, imploring Shiva's intervention, and Shiva is seen on Bhagiratha's right. There are over 140 figures carved into this relief - humans, demigods, angels, animals all melded into a harmonious whole. The most prominent figures in the relief are a herd of elephants led by two near-life-sized elephants.
Carvings of the nagas in half-serpent half-human form are shown swimming in the river as Ganga descends from the heavens.
A temple is shown at the bottom of the cleft and to its right, designed like the Draupadi chariot. It shows a sage writing and teaching, with students (whose heads are unfortunately missing) arrayed in front.
The relief was created to celebrate the victory of Narasimhavarman I (630–668 CE) over the Chalukya Emperor Pulakesin II.

A triple celled Rock cut Trimurti shrine with Gopis is part of this complex, attributable stylistically to the early Pallava period, and the reign of King Parameswaravarman (672-700 CE). These three shrines are dedicated to Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, with the central shrine of Shiva being slightly larger than the other two. Pairs of dwarapalakas stand guard at the entrance of each of the shrines on the left and right. Hara (garland) elements usually seen on the talas of temples are seen over the entrance. The shrine on the south is for Subrahmanya in the form of Brahmashasta, while the northernmost shrine is dedicated to Vishnu. A niche dedicated to Durga is seen further north of the Vishnu shrine.
A monolithic shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, is known commonly as the Ganesha Ratha since there is a Ganesha idol inside the shrine. It is also known as the Atyantakama Pallaveswaram, as per an inscription at the temple site. It has a rectangular plan and a dwi-tala salavimana, or two-storeyed main spire. The narrow mukhamandapa (ante-chamber), has two lion pillars and pilasters.
The complex has other temples and cave temples.