Half way between the cities of Chennai and Pondicherry, in Tamil Nadu, sits Mammallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram).
Famous for its grand stone carvings and structures, this town dates back to the 7th/9th century and it’s one of the oldest examples of South Indian architecture within the Dravidian style.
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but truth be told, the crowds, lack of maintenance of the surrounding areas and usual businesses that concentrate around such touristic spots, do take out from the sense of care and preservation a place like this should be immersed in. I guess all of that confusion is part of the Indian experience and, as such, should be embraced with an adventurous spirit.
Still very much worth a visit, this is what Mammallapuram and the areas around it look like:
(Click i for captions!)
Shore Temple
Cow figures outside the Shore Temple
It's been 1400 years
Ashray developing his spiritual side
And then Ashray…
Ladies coming out of the Shore Temple
Meanwhile, by a nearby touristic bus
Wherever there are tourists
At the Five Rathas site
Merchandise sellers on site
By the Five Rathas
Ashray by the Five Rathas
Fresh fruits and water
A group of beggars with leprosy
Stop for some ice-cream…
Arjuna's Penance bas-relief
Carvings of elephants and monkeys
Good-bye Mamallapuram