Enchanted Mamallapuram, 2022

On the shores of Tamil Nadu, on the eastern coast of peninsular India, is a marvellous town of temples, carved out of the rock. Mamallapuram was one of the greatest sea-faring ports of ancient times. Coins found here testify to extensive trade with Rome and other places, as early as in the first century. This port town was called Mamalai, or ‘Great Hill’. Ships sailed constantly from here to Sri Lanka, South East Asia and China. Here, over perhaps a hundred years, from about 630 to 728 CE, marvellous monuments were cut out of outcrops of hard grey granite. Cliff faces were transformed into a teeming world of animals and people. Boulders were carved into fine temples and rocks were chiselled into the shapes of animals. Mamallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram) is indeed an enchanted place.