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Description: | Photograph of the Arjuna Ratha and the Draupadi Ratha at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections taken by Alexander Rea in the 1880s. The small village of Mamallapuram on the coast south of Madras, was a very important site in the seventh-eighth centuries as it was the main port of the Pallava rulers of Kanchipuram. The rock-cut and the monolithic temples which were erected by Mamalla (r.c.630-68) and Rajasimha (r.c.700-728) represent the earliest examples of monumental architecture in southern India. The site is famous for an early group of monolithic temples, known as the 'Pancha Ratha', the 'five chariots', temple-like monoliths from the seventh century, Mamalla reign, that were left unfinished. In this view the Arjuna Ratha is in the foreground, the Draupadi Ratha beyond and a large monolithic elephant is next to them. The two rathas stand on a carved plinth. The Draupadi Ratha has a hut-like roof and a doorway carved with female figures. The outer walls of the Arjuna Ratha have sculptures of Shiva with Nandi, Vishnu with Garuda and Indra on the elephant. The upper storey is covered by an octagonal dome. | License: | http://www.bl.uk/services/copy/permission.html | Rights holder: | British Library | Subjects: | Art Hindu Temples Sacred Architecture Sculpture Leisure And The Arts Architecture Rock-Cut Temples | Source: | Collect Britain | Creator: | Rea, Alexander | Identifier: | http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personal... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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