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Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Mahabalipuram or Mamalapuram is a 7th century port city of the Pallava rulers of South India, around fifty-eight kilometers from Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is believed to have been named after King Narasimhavarman I or Mamalla as he was known, the greatest of the Pallava kings. Mahabalipuram has hundreds of ancient monuments built between the 7th and 9th centuries and is a World Heritage Site. The monuments are mostly rock cut and monolithic, reflecting the early Dravidian style of architecture, with a bit of Buddhist influence. The cave and structural temples, the monolithic rathas or chariots, and the pillars are all typical of Pallava art. Combined with the golden beach sand, the romantic past of kings and queens, the sanctity of artistically hewn temples, and the palaces and sanctums make Mahabalipuram a major tourist attraction in India. Among the monuments at Mahabalipuram, the Five Chariots, or rathas, are really outstanding, and are the precursors of south Indian temples. The five rathas are carved on a hill about two-hundred meters to the south, along with three sculptures of a lion, an elephant, and Nandi, a bull. The Shore Temple is a structural temple and a beautiful example of Dravidian architecture. It was built by Narasinmhavarman II, situated along the Bay of Bengal with the entrance from the western side away from the sea. There are three shrines in the temple of which two are dedicated to Shiva, one facing the sea and the other facing the township. The temple was reconstructed stone by stone from the sea after being washed away in a cyclone. The Mahishamardhani and Adivaraha mandapas are the greatest among many rock cut cave temples or mandapas (or rock sanctuaries modelled as rooms covered with bas-reliefs). The Mahishamardhani temple has been excavated on the eastern side of the hilltop and has three shrines. On its northern and southern walls are great sculptural reliefs of Goddess Durga fighting a demon, and one of Lord Vishnu in His cosmic sleep. World Heritage Site IndiaAgra Fort | Ajanta Caves | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | Churches and Convents of Goa| The Elephant Caves | Ellora Caves | Fatehpur Sikri | Great Living Chola TemplesGroup of Monuments at Hampi | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Humanyun’s Tomb, Delhi | Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya | Mountain Railways of India The Qutab Minar and its Monuments | Red Fort Complex | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka Sun Temple, Konârak | Taj Mahal, Agra | Natural |