"Stone Carvings Ancient and modern with a... " a Mamallapuram Travel Page by bradbeaman

The Infinity Pool is a great place to relax after seeing the ancient stone carvings. This is a great beach and has a view of the historic Shore Temple.

Click here to take the GRT Poolside 180 view tour

Not only a 1,300 year old temple, but here you will find shopping, swimming or a horseback ride along the beach.

Mamallapuram is a UNESCO world heritage site with carvings that date back to Mamalla, the Pallava kings who built the stone carvings. The earliest carvings date back to this period to 630 AD.

Mahabalipuram is a comon European name for Mallapuram. Web search both names when you are looking for information on Mallapuram.

The area is known for stone carvings and historical monuments from the 7th century.

Is this a light house, a temple, a carved elephant, a musical instrument?

All of the above. The shape of this giant rock has been carved to look like an elephant with howdah on top. A fire was burned on top in centuries past to serve as a lighthouse. A cave temple has been carved into the rock and the pillars are made to have musical tones like a giant instrument.