Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu - Five Rathas - Bhima Ratha
Bhima Ratha is a monument in the Pancha Rathas complex at Mahabalipuram, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is an example of monolith Indian rock-cut architecture. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I (630–680 AD; also called Mamalla, or "great warrior") of the Pallava Kingdom. The entire complex is under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and is one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Resembling a chariot (ratha), it is carved out of a single, long stone of granite. Though sometimes mistakenly referred to as a temple, the structure was not consecrated because it was not completed following the death of Narasimhavarman I. The structure is named after one of the Pancha Pandavas, of epic Mahabharata fame, though the nomenclature is not supported by its iconography. It is dedicated to Vishnu.
Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu - Five Rathas - Bhima Ratha
Bhima Ratha is a monument in the Pancha Rathas complex at Mahabalipuram, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is an example of monolith Indian rock-cut architecture. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I (630–680 AD; also called Mamalla, or "great warrior") of the Pallava Kingdom. The entire complex is under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and is one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Resembling a chariot (ratha), it is carved out of a single, long stone of granite. Though sometimes mistakenly referred to as a temple, the structure was not consecrated because it was not completed following the death of Narasimhavarman I. The structure is named after one of the Pancha Pandavas, of epic Mahabharata fame, though the nomenclature is not supported by its iconography. It is dedicated to Vishnu.