The Rathas were a short walk south of Mamallapurum and although they supposedly resembled a chariot, my imagination missed this interpretation. While these seventh century structures were well preserved, they did not deviate much from what I had already seen. Continue reading Mamallapurum’s Five Rathas
Tag Archives: Hindu temples
Mamallapuram visit
I wandered for several hours through the main heritage site. It was a Friday and filled with more local adventurers than foreigners. Continue reading Mamallapuram visit
Granite boulders of Mamallapuram
Apart from temples carved into the rock, the main heritage site contained natural beauty beyond the seventh century relics. Continue reading Granite boulders of Mamallapuram
Mamallapuram’s main heritage site
Nestled within the boulders of Mamallapuram, were temples carved into granite boulders just west of the shore temple. I wandered through a labyrinth of paths where elaborate friezes were carved into the stone as well as temples fronted with columns. Continue reading Mamallapuram’s main heritage site
The Shore Temple – Mamallapuram
I headed to the beach to catch the sea breeze on a sweltering thirty-four degree afternoon. I waded into the warm ocean that offered some relief when I spied the Shore Temple on an outcrop of land jutting into the Bay of Bengal. Continue reading The Shore Temple – Mamallapuram
The business of religion
The best maintained buildings in Puducherry were both the churches and the main temples.
Puducherry’s Ganesh Temple radiated in all its grandeur as if it had recently been painted every colour of the rainbow. Inside was more eye-popping than the exterior. As I wandered the perimeter ogling at the freezes, a queue waited to enter the inner sanctuary for blessings. Continue reading The business of religion
Puducherry churches
I stumbled upon enormous churches, all of which seemed over sized for a town like Pondy. Perhaps in the days of French colonial rule, they needed them larger than the Hindu temples. Continue reading Puducherry churches