Mahabalipuram is a temple town situated along the shores of the
Bay of Bengal about 60 kms from the south Indian city of Chennai.

Monolithic rock carved temples are refreshingly uncluttered, unlike later grandiose Dravidian architecture and tower over the waves behind a protective breakwater.

This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries.

It dates back to the 7th century when it was a thriving port of the
Pallava Empire.

There are eight rathas at Mahabalipuram, out of which five are named after the `Pandavas` (five brothers)of Mahabharata and one after Draupadi.

This site is also called Mamallapuram, named after the great wrestler Mamalla, the title of Pallava king Narasimha Varman