Mahabalipuram, India: 7th Century AD Nakula Sahadeva Ratha and Elephant

Mahabalipuram, India: 7th Century AD Nakula Sahadeva Ratha and Elephant

The Pancha, or Five, Rathas (also known as Pandava Rathas) which are a series of monuments at Mahabalipuram, or also called Mamallapuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I (630–680 AD) of the Pallava Kingdom. Image shows the Nakula Sachadeva Ratha and a sculpted elephant by it’s side, from the rear. The structures are without any precedence in Indian temple architecture and are completely carved out of a single rock each. Remarkably well preserved for monuments that are over 1300 years old; they withstood the ravages of the Tsunamis of the 13th Century and 2004. They however display the effects of wind and sand erosion. These are not temples as they are unfinished and were never consecrated. They are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site at Mahabalipuram. Photo shot in the afternoon sunlight; vertical format. No people. ©Mano Chandra Dhas

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