MAHABALIPURAM

also called Mamallapuram, or Seven Pagodas historic town, northeast Tamil Nadu state, southeastern India. The town lies along the Bay of Bengal 37 miles (60 km) south of Madras. The town's religious centre was founded by a 7th-century-AD Hindu Pallava king, Narasimhavarman, also known as Mamalla, for whom the town was named. Ancient Chinese, Persian, and Roman coins found at Mahabalipuram point to its earlier existence as a seaport. It contains many surviving 7th- and 8th-century Pallava temples and monuments, chief of which are the sculptured rock relief popularly known as Arjuna's Penance, or Descent of the Ganges, a series of sculptured cave temples, and a Saiva temple on the seashore. The town's five rathas, or monolithic temples, are the remnants of seven temples, for which the town was known as Seven Pagodas. The town is a resort and tourist centre. It contains a college offering instruction in architecture and temple sculpture.