Know about the 2nd Largest state economy Tamil Nadu

Namaste Indians,

Let's learn about the second-largest economy state in India, the richest in cultural heritage. Pride of beholding the oldest surviving language (Tamil) in the World, the Tamil Nadu.

Karl Schmidt Memorial at Edward Elliot's Beach

Karl Schmidt Memorial is an architectural landmark commemorating a European sailor K.A.J Schmidt who was drowned near this spot on December 30, 1930, while trying to save the life of an English girl. Schmidt successfully saved her life but lost his own life in the process. It is located at Edward Elliot's Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. 

Mamallapuram (earlier known as Mahabalipuram) - 56 km south of Chennai on the Tamil Nadu coast, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s President Xi Jinping on October 11 & 12 in an informal Wuhan-style summit was a major seaport during the ancient Chola and Pallava dynasties - and home to World Heritage-listed rock-cut temples and caves.

The sleeping idol inside Shore Temple, Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram has ties with China that go back 2000 years. Celadon ware (pottery) of the first century and second century recovered on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, hint towards Chinese maritime activities.

The name Mamallapuram derives from Mamallan, or "Great Warrior", a title by which the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I (630-668 AD) was known.  Chinese monk Hiuen Tsang had also visited Kancheepuram that time only, most likely through Mamallapuram.

Shore Temple, Mamallapuram

Krishna Mandapa

This monument is, in fact, a bas-relief of the Pallava period depicting Krishna limiting the mount Govardhana. It has a structural mandapa in the front added during 16th century CE. The principal scene shows Krishna lifting the mount Govardhana to protect the cowherds and cowherdesses from the storm raised by Indra. Krishna is shown supporting the mountain with his left palm, the other hand being in varada attitude. The gopika holding a sling of pots and bundle of fodder, the wood-cutter with axe, a cow being milked and animals are depicted with much calmness as if they were not aware of the fury of Indra's storm.

Krishna's Butter Ball, Mamallapuram

Unfinished rock-cut cave temple north of Krishna mandapa

This cave-temple would have been the largest of all cave-temples of the Pallavas. On stylistic grounds, it may be placed later among the Mamalla style cave-temples in the period of Parameswara Varman I (672-700 CE). This cave temple has a unique plan in having a rock-cut shrine at the back of the facade hall with an unfinished passage for circumambulation. The facade itself is relieved with a series of hara elements. The pillars are unique in having vyala over the phalaka and below the kapota, as in the Chalukyan examples. Locally, this cave-temple is known as Pancha Pandava mandapa.

Beautifully carved architecture on rocks, Mamallapuram

Dharmaraja Rock Cut Throne

In addition to the well known monolithic and cave temple, there are a number of other similar works of architecture in Mahabalipuram, not falling under any definite category. One among them is the Dharmaraja's rock-cut throne. This monolithic edifice consists of a large rectangular seat with a beautifully carved couchant lion at one end.

Beautifully carved Gods and Goddesses on rocks, Mamallapuram

Ganesha Ratha

This monolithic temple, dedicated to Siva, is known as Atyantakama Pallavesvaram" from the inscription of this temple. The title "Atyantakama" is identified with Paramesvaravarman-I (672-700 CE). This monolithic temple is rectangular in plan and has a dvitala salavimana. The adhisthana is not defined. The narrow Mukha mandapa has two lion-pillars and pilasters. Since there is a Ganesha image inside the shrine, this monolithic temple is called as Ganesha Ratha.

Draupadi's Bath

Here the rock was cut into rectangular cist like structure like bathing tub, hence it got the name Draupadi" s bath.

Royapuram

This monument is an incomplete gopuram with a high, moulded adhisthana and the door-jambs erected over the summit of the hillock, possibly of Vijayanagara period. Beautiful sculpture representations are found in this doorjamb of the gopuram.