Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
கடற்கரைக் கோயில்
Mahabalipuram, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu
About
The Shore Temple is a complex of temples and shrines that overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is located in Mahabalipuram, a village south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD.
Built by the Pallava King Rajasimha, the Shore Temple is one of the oldest structural stone temples of South India. It consists of three shrines: two dedicated to Shiva and one to Vishnu (in a reclining posture). The temple complex was buried under sand for centuries until it was excavated.
It is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is notable for its stepped pyramidal vimanas.