In the present day, Shore Temple makes the background of Mahabalipuram Dance Festival held annually in January/ February. Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site in Tamil Nadu, India. (CC BY SA 3.0) Remarkable as the Shore temple may seem, it is the six other submerged temples that have gained the most interest. All of those so far identified are around 6ft tall, and all have the elaborate engravings – of the kind found in the rock-hewn Mahabalipuram temple. The structure of the temple was erected basically as a work of art. Shore Temple was named as 'Seven Pagodas' due to its pyramidal structure. In one more twist of fate, the tsunami’s ferocious waves have also positively impacted on the temple, the archaeologists report. Or so they say. "People are coming to see what the tsunami dug up," said Timothy, who sells sea shells and plastic palm trees at a beachside souvenir stand. We found some new things," said one, pointing to the exposed boulders. A significant amount of coins and other artefacts excavated from this region also indicat… Maintained by Archaeology department of India. however in the year 2004, as the Tsunami struck the Coromandel Coast, several tourists and locals claim to have seen six of the submerged temples surface for a brief while. F or more than one thousand years at the Bay of Bengal in Mahabalipuram stands the Shore Temple. It is home to dozens of Hindu temples, baroque stone structures often covered with carvings. Speaking to CWA, Robert Knox, Keeper of the Department of Asia at the British Museum said: This appears to be a very exciting revelation, and needs to be investigated thoroughly. Shore Temple is no more a temple worshipped. On sunny weekend days hundreds of people now come to take a look at the carvings and splash their feet in the ocean. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. According to a local myth, the beauty of Mahabalipuram aroused the jealousy of … The operator gave us a history glimpse of Mahabalipuram shore temple which were 7 in total and over time 6 of them submerged in the deep while the last and existing one was seen. Shore temple at Mahabalipuram is the most fascinating structure of Mahabalipuram. The Shore Temple of Mamallapuram was built during the reign of the Pallavan king Rajasimha/Narasimhavarman II, and it is the oldest structural temple of significance in South India. The structures found on the beach ‘could be part of the small seaport city which existed here before the water engulfed them. "My grandfathers said there was a port here once and a temple, but suddenly we could see it was real, we could see that something was out there.". So officially, researchers express little surprise at what was exposed. This article is an extract from the full article published in World Archaeology Issue 10. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Once upon a time, in the first century A.D., it was a tiny port town bustling with life. The waves have given the temple a deep external clean, and have managed to de-silt one of the reliefs that had long been covered with sand. This place looks epic during sunset which is the perfect time for photography enthusiasts. Mahabalipuram was already a thriving sea port on the Bay of Bengal before this time. Shore temple is a complex of three temples, one large and two small, located right on the shores of the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in Mahabalipuram. The Pallavas, who were known to be great patrons of art wanted to create a temple in their own style of architecture. All rights reserved. It is located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); © 2021 Current Publishing. "There must have been at least 20," said Sunderasan, a young man, gesturing toward the sea. Those temples, which according to myth are said to have once lined the shore, were so beautiful that the gods destroyed all but one - the so-called Shore Temple, a magnificently carved complex that is now considered a national treasure. Whatever they saw is back under water and out of sight. It is said that the Shore Temple acted as a landmark for the navigation of ships. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "We had no idea there were so many out there.". "Business is good these days," Timothy said, smiling. All Rights Reserved. They record how a large and attractive city once stood on the site, but that it was so beautiful the gods became jealous and sent a flood that swallowed it up entirely in a single day. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Tourism is a major employer here, a reflection of a spreading Indian middle class, and the coast road is lined with mom-and-pop resorts and cheap restaurants. "But from a human perspective ..." he said, his words drifting into silence. During the reign of the Pallava dynasty, between the 3rd century CE and 7th century CE, it became an important centre of art, architecture and literature. Perhaps the most famous archaeological finding after the tsunami was a large stone lion, which the changing shoreline left sitting uncovered on Mahabalipuram's beach. But what did those fisherman see? 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This legend wss considered a myth for centuries, and thus no investigation was ever conducted. The Shore temple is the only standing temple on board. And there's something else the tsunami gave back - tourists, drawn by heated headlines in the Indian media about a rediscovered Atlantis. "You could see the destroyed walls covered in coral, and the broken-down temple in the middle," said Durai, a sinewy fisherman who, like many south Indians, uses only one name. The Shore Temple is no more a living temple. Built under Narasimhavarman II in the 8th century, it’s the earliest significant free-standing stone temple in Tamil Nadu. 3. It is an architectural beauty standing tall by the beach. 7 discoveries that changed the archaeological world. All of those so far identified are around 6ft tall, and all have the elaborate engravings – of the kind found in the rock-hewn Mahabalipuram temple. It was stated that the six temples out of the seven pagodas remain submerged in the depth of the waters even today. Locals and tourists have flocked to see this statue since shortly after the tsunami. And every tourist who heads there, is still told this tale, which is not entirely true. Archaeologists say excavations on shore and at sea were already under way before the tsunami struck, and that divers made promising finds of barnacle-encrusted blocks that appear man-made. Mahabalipuram Tourism; Mahabalipuram Hotels; Mahabalipuram Bed and Breakfast; Mahabalipuram Vacation Rentals The Shore Temple (built in 700–728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Shore Temple: Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram in a day from Chennai with Guide & pick up drop (From US$135,00) An extraordinary - UNESCO Monuments Tour to Mahabalipuram from Chennai (From US$42,62) Full-Day Guided Tour to Mahabalipuram from Chennai with Lunch (From US$115,00) But nearly everyone around here knows the stories - cocktails of history and mythology that tell of the great port city that traded with China and Southeast Asia some 1,300 years ago. The myths tell of six temples submerged beneath the waves with the seventh temple – the Mahabalipuram temple – still standing on the seashore. A Sangam period Murugan temple unearthed at Mahabalipuram was discovered by a team of archaeologists from the ASI based on clues found in a rock inscription left exposed by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Its beautiful structure is an architectural marvel, which depicts the ancient finesse of art. The Shore Temple which was built during 700 - 728 AD has stood the test of times. However, the strong structure survived the catastrophe with the least damage to … We have all heard the story of how an ancient temple, was unearthed by the receding waters, after the catastrophic tsunami of 2004 in Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram. Shore Temple: Tsunami change - See 1,639 traveler reviews, 1,873 candid photos, and great deals for Mahabalipuram, India, at Tripadvisor. It seems to me quite sensible to assume that there are finds to be made out to sea and that a concerted effort in that area will yield useful information.’ A lot of new perspectives that I discovered, new excavations have revealed stuff and the most significant of them all, hidden underwater temples have come to fore. This temple was built entirely of granite blocks. Mahabalipuram, capital of an ancient kingdom and famous for its elaborate Hindu temples, escaped mostly unscathed, with only three dead and limited damage. Eyewitness accounts of tsunami relics stirred popular and scientific interest in the site. But legend speaks of its most famous temples: the Seven Pagodas, named for the vaguely pagoda-like style of Hindu temples in this part of India. He wanted us to pay Rs 600 as he tho 2. They could be part of a temple or a building. The waves that brought such tragedy are thus adding new pieces to the puzzle of Mahabalipuram. At present, Shore Temple is made the background of the Mahabalipuram Dance Festival which is held in January/February every year. The killer waves shifted thousands of tonnes of sand to uncover granite sculptures which archaeologists claim, are remnants of a seventh-century civilisation. *Some important early artworks, inscriptions and a water-tanks were discovered near the Shore Temple due to the effect that the Tsunami of 2004 had on the landscape. © 2005 The Associated Press. The shore temple is a symbol of the ancient ruins of Mahabalipuram. The remains of a temple approximately one-and-a-half times the size of the still standing Shore Temple structure, plus a smaller temple on the same excavation site, have been laid bare by the excavations. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Shore Temple: Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram in a day from Chennai with Guide & pick up drop (From US$135.00) An extraordinary - UNESCO Monuments Tour to Mahabalipuram from Chennai (From US$42.62) Full-Day Guided Tour to Mahabalipuram from Chennai with Lunch (From US$115.00) The December 2004 tsunami, which battered much of the south Indian coast, has helped unearth priceless relics in the ancient port city of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. But the fishermen insist they saw the remains of ancient temples and hundreds of refrigerator-sized blocks, all briefly exposed before the sea swallowed them up again. But a few hundred yards away, something else came to the surface. "The tsunami didn't do very much at all," said Alok Tripathi, who runs the excavations for the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple, a World Heritage site, represents some of the earliest-known examples of Dravidian architecture dating back to the 7th century AD. But anonymously, fearing they'd be seen as callous, some researchers quietly acknowledge the tsunami revealed more than expected. The myths of Mahabalipuram were first set down in writing by British traveller J Goldingham, who visited the South Indian coastal town in 1798. Archaeologists laugh at the tales of Atlantis and say it may take years of undersea exploration to uncover the truth. Archaeologists have begun underwater excavations of what is believed to be an ancient city and parts of a temple uncovered by the tsunami off … Archaeologists have dated it to the 7th century (BBC Staff). In India, 10,700 people are confirmed dead, with more than 5,600 missing. - See 1,639 traveler reviews, 1,873 candid photos, and great deals for Mahabalipuram, India, at Tripadvisor. This is a town made for legend. Most likely this is the last of the legendary Seven PAgodas – other temples have been inundated under the sea and destroyed by terrible tsunami or earthquake long ago. Now with equal vengeance, the myths may have become reality: the recent tsunami appears to have thrown evidence of the ancient port city back onto the beaches. Shore temple is a complex of three temples, one large and two small, located right on the shores of the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in Mahabalipuram. Spread across nearly a mile, the site was encrusted with barnacles and covered in mud. After the recession of the coastline following the tsunami, archaeologists identified several stone structures buried in the sand close to the Mahabalipuram temple. Finally he added: "There was a lot of deaths, a lot of damage, a lot of destruction. Mahabalipuram, Place that could take your travel to the next level Travel to History with the astonishing views in and out of the Shore Temple and its surroundings. After the tsunami of 2004, about 500 m was pulled back by the sea. The other six temples are thought to have been submerged under the sea. Shore Temple: Must watch - world heritage site! The best place to have a great photography. "From an archaeological perspective, maybe the tsunami was good. How did rioters breach the U.S. Capitol on January 6? In the time of Pallava dynasty, Mahabalipuram was popular trading port. The area around the famous Mahabalipuram temple in Tamil Nadu state is swathed in legend. According to legends, Shore temple of Mahabalipuram was originally in a group of 7 temples of unparalleled beauty. The news made international headlines. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. For the past three years, archaeologists working with divers from India and England have undertaken surveys stretching 1km into the sea and have identified underwater remnants likely to belong to the ancient port. If the tsunami scared most tourists away, in Mahabalipuram it also brought some back. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). Fellow at the gate called Ravichandran didn’t allow my wife or I into the Shore temple precincts despite us having purchased online tickets. For a few minutes, after the water had receded far from the shore and before it came raging back as a tsunami, the fishermen stood along the beach and stared at the reality of generations of legends. January 3, 2005 One of the monuments that survived the tsunami was the shore temple of Mahabalipuram (named after Mahabali of Onam festival or Pallava king Mamalla). "Only because of these new things are people coming.". It was constructed as a work of art. The Dec. 26 tsunami savaged hundreds of miles of shoreline across Asia. Shore Temple Mahabalipuram. We started sailing towards the shore temple and the view were getting brilliant with outline of shore and the monument. We are investigating,’ says Dr Sathiamoorthy of Archaeological Survey of India. *Some works at Mahabalipuram, such as Arjuna’s Penance and possible our rock-cut Vishnu as well, were designed to ‘perform’. The most famous shore temple of Mahabalipuram was the worst hit during the 2004 tsunami. It is one of the famous structural stone temples that have stood up for years. The Shore Temple which is on the banks of the Bay of Bengal is one of the main attractions of Mahabalipuram. Every tourist trail also begins from the shore temple. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Shore Temple is built using the granite stones and it is one of the oldest stone temples in South India. Initially, excavations revealed an 8th-century Pallava-era shrine. ", First published on March 17, 2005 / 4:14 PM. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. A half-completed rock relief of an elephant was also naturally de-silted by the waves, and is drawing large crowds of admirers. Click here to subscribe. For a few minutes, after the water had receded far from the shore and before it came raging back as a tsunami, the fishermen stood along the … 4. 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From the first time that I visited this temple in the 1990s to now, a lot has changed about this temple. Further excavations revealed that the 8th-century shrine had been built on the brick foundation of an earlier shrine. He dismisses the talk of 20 temples offshore, saying the fisherman believe "every stone is a temple.". The Mahabalipuram’s Shore Temple was built with granite stone and is one of the oldest stone temples in South India. The Shore Temple is one of four primary locations worthy of exploration in and around Mahabalipuram, which include: Tiger Cave (4km north of the town) Central Monuments (immediately west of the town) Shore Temple (a very short walk east of the town) Pancha Rathas (1/2km south of the town) The Shore Temple was built between… Mahabalipuram Tourism; Mahabalipuram Hotels; Mahabalipuram Bed and Breakfast; Mahabalipuram Vacation Rentals; Mahabalipuram Vacation Packages Some fishermen insist they saw more than the six vanished temples when the waters fell back. This temple in Tamil Nadu, India, 10,700 people are confirmed dead, with more the... 10,700 people are confirmed dead, with more than expected was encrusted with barnacles and covered mud. A work of art wanted to create a temple in Tamil Nadu state is swathed in legend in! Of Bengal before this time the brick foundation of an elephant was also naturally de-silted mahabalipuram shore temple tsunami the beach granite! 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