The eldest of the rathas was the grandest The second one resembled its namesake and was the mightiest The third reflected his nimble nature & the fourth was all about twins' animal care The fifth was symbolic of their wife's nurture of their lair. Such is the representation of the famed monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram - popularly known as the Pancha Rathas Mahabalipuram. Discover more about this UNESCO World Heritage Site with this ultimate guide to the Mahabalipuram five rathas.
Third time and not bored! Third time and found something more! If you are wondering what I am rambling about – it is my third visit to the lovely UNESCO World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram called the Pancha Rathas. For some reason, the sandy ruins of this ancient coastal town always fascinate me. They are not as intricate as a lot of other places but there is always something new that I have discovered on each of my visits. The glorious Pancha Rathas Mamallapuram in particular has been a favorite for various reasons – its mysterious history, its uniqueness and the little details on them.
In my Mahabalipuram guide, I have shared the entire history and overview of this ancient shore town with its early mentions going back to the days of Ptolemy. The seaport was also, a bustling hub for architectural experiments- from carved bas-reliefs to monolithic structures. The five Rathas monument is one such example of the rock-cut monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram. What makes it even more intriguing are the various theories surrounding this Mahabalipuram five rathas.
In this post, you will learn all about the Pancha Rathas architecture and its history. You will also, get tips and suggestions on how to plan a visit to the Pancha Rathas Mahabalipuram which includes the Pancha Rathas timings, entrance fees, where to stay in Mahabalipuram and how to get there. It is best to now get started.
Contents
- 1 History of the Pancha Rathas Mahabalipuram
- 2 Mahabalipuram Pancha Rathas architecture & plan
- 3 The five monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram
- 4 The other monolithic sculptures of Mahabalipuram Five Rathas
- 5 FAQs about the Mahabalipuram five Rathas
- 5.1 What is the best way to reach Mahabalipuram?
- 5.2 Which is the best time to visit the Mahabalipuram Pancha Rathas?
- 5.3 Which is the best place to stay in Mamallapuram?
- 5.4 What are the Mahabalipuram Pancha Rathas entrance fees?
- 5.5 What are the Mamallapuram Pancha Rathas timings?
- 5.6 Which is the biggest ratha of the Pancha Rathas Mahabalipuram?
- 5.7 How many Pancha rathas are located in Mahabalipuram India?
- 5.8 What do the Pancha Rathas resemble?
- 6 Booking Resources
History of the Pancha Rathas Mahabalipuram
Pancha means Five and Rathas mean Chariots. Initially, it was thought that these monuments were made to emulate the Chariots of the Five Pandava brothers and their wife – Draupadi. Given this interpretation, this group of monuments is also, called the Pandava Rathas. However, this initial explanation has been disputed and now the historians all feel that these had no connection to the Pandavas and these could just be Buddhist buildings. One set also, feels that these could just be prototypes of the temples (experiments similar to the ones done in Aihole) that were built across Tamil Nadu. Either way, the purpose of these structures is not known and the name now has been officially, considered a misnomer.
However, once named so named! The Pancha Rathas stuck on. It is said that they were built around 630 AD by the famous Pallava king – Mahendravarman I and later continued by his son King Narsimhavarman. However, they say that the construction stopped after his death and these monuments literally got buried under the sands of time. It was later that the British discovered these and excavated them.
The Mahabalipuram five Rathas along with a few other monuments like the Shore temple were managed by ASI (Archaeological Society of India) until 1984. This is when it got clubbed as the Group of monuments and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mahabalipuram Pancha Rathas architecture & plan
The Mamallapuram Pancha Rathas are believed carved out of a single hillock. They are monolithic in a literal sense. It is this fact that had my eyeballs popping out. Imagine being able to carve out an entire hill to make these fascinating structures and that too, without our modern-day tools. Impressive!
The Pancha Rathas architecture is said to be of the Dravidian style– specifically the Pallava style. Though they say that these were left incomplete, there is so much perfection and beauty here, that it is hard to believe that this was done without a purpose or was not completed.
There are five major structures that seemed to have been modeled after the traditional Indian chariots or the Rathas. Each one of these has a different type of roof – which is what the historians believe was the main aspect of architecture that was being experimented on here. Besides these five monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram, there are a few other structures like a rock-cut lion, a Nandi and an elephant. All these are perfect examples of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture.
The five monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram
One of the possible reasons why these monolithic temples of Mamallapuram were believed to be inspired by the Pandavas could be the specific features that each one of them displays. It is as if they were made to display the human characteristics of the five brothers and their wife. When you take a tour of the Pancha Rathas, you will be able to spot these features.
- Dharmaraja Yudhistra – He was the eldest of the five and was known for his keen sense of Dharma and righteousness.
- Bhima – the 2nd of the Pandavas was known for his hulk-like stature. He was the mightiest and the biggest of them all.
- Arjuna – The most nimble and renowned warrior of them all
- Nakul and Sahadev – the celestial twins who were known for their love and prowess with animals
- Draupadi – the wife of all five Pandavas. She was known for her fearless attitude.
With that as a quick introduction, let’s explore each one of these Pancha Rathas in detail.
Download an audio guide for the key Mahabalipuram monuments through Viator. It covers 8 landmarks including the Mahabalipuram shore temple.
Dharmaraja Ratha – the tallest of the monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram
The Dharmaraja Ratha is located at the far end of the Pancharathas. It is the tallest among the Pancha rathas with three storeys and hence is considered to be Yudhistra’s chariot (the eldest of the Pandavas). The fascinating thing about it is that there is a staircase that can be found on the first floor leading to the second. However, there is no way to reach the first floor. 🙂
The outer face of the 40 feet tall Dharmaraja Ratha has a lot of deities carved on it – approximately 22 carvings. You can spot Lord Brahma, Harihara, Ardhnarishwari (a form of Shiva and Parvati) and the Harihara form of Lord Shiva. Our guide informed us that one of the carved images was that of King Narsimhavardhan. Sadly, he told us this after we had left the site 🙁 and for the life of me, I cannot identify him through my images. So, I leave it as a task for you to discover and write back to me on what was left incomplete on my last visit.
Hidden on the first floor are carved images of Lord Krishna, including one on Kaliya. The 2nd floor has Somaskanda sculptures. The pillars on the ground floors are carved with Yalis (mythical lion guardians)
Bhima Ratha – the 2nd of the Pancha Rathas Mamallapuram
Second in line, after the Dharmaraja Ratha is the Bhima Ratha. I suppose it was called so as it is the biggest of the five – quite like the 2nd Pandava Prince – Bhima, who was known to be the mightiest of the five. If you ask me, this is the most beautiful of the five. This has a first floor, which again you cannot access but the whole oblong structure with an ornate roof does make it look like a hut.
Quite like the Dharmaraja Ratha, here the pillars have a seated Lion. The deep crevice in the front gives it a very cave-like appearance and yet, the whole mighty structure makes it look like a mansion.
Have a close look at the roof of the Bhima Ratha for three things –
- The hidden carvings of the deities on the first floor
- The tiny row of faces that run along the entire roof
- The little bell-like structure at the front of the roof
If you have spotted these, remember to write in the comment box below. 🙂 The first one is quite simple but hidden and the last one makes me wonder if this was designed to be a temple. My guide on my earlier visit here mentioned something curious about the tiny row of faces that you might have spotted. Some historians say that they are Caucasian faces to symbolize the Romans who traded with the Pallava kings!
Arjuna Chariot in the Pancha Ratha rock-cut temples
This one is the third in line after Dharmaraja Ratha and was sadly under restoration this time around. However, here is a clear picture from my earlier visit.
Note that here there are no pillars unlike the previous two but a wall that is completely carved. Our guide told us that this was dedicated to Lord Shiva as there was a Trishul within the small cavern, Again, I could not check that as the scaffoldings did not allow me to sneak in. On one of the walls, as you can see above, there is a carving of a deity with a cow. Now that some say is Shiva with Nandi. However, I also, felt that it resembled the Cowherd representation of Krishna – don’t you think so?
When I pointed that out to the guide, he gave me another piece of evidence that was irrefutable. The statue of Nandi that faced this particular piece of the Pancha Rathas. Widely accepted that every temple of Shiva has a Nandi carved in front of it. What could I say? 🙂
Draupadi’s Vimana among the Mamallapuram Five Rathas
Sharing the same platform as Arjuna’s Ratha, was Draupadi’s Ratha. This for me was the simplest but cutest of the lot. It resembled a small hut with a thatched roof and if you go inside, you could spot a carving of Goddess Durga. Even around the structure, you will find the Goddess in various poses. Quite symbolic of the many roles of women – from a nurturer to a homemaker and a destroyer when things go bad.
The chariot of Nakul and Sahadev
The Nakul-Sahadev Ratha is the only one that is not in line with the other Rathas. It is also, the smallest but like the Bhima Ratha has a single floor. This particular piece always gave me the feeling of being incomplete. The interesting thing about this is that it is right next to a perfectly carved elephant.
When you enter the Pancha Ratha campus, the one resemblance that you cannot miss is that the back of the elephant and the Nakul-Sahadev Ratha are quite similar. If you have not noticed, this is one thing that every guide will point out. 🙂
Nakul and Sahadev of Pandava fame were known for their love and prowess with animals. Interestingly, surrounding their Ratha, there are a few other rock-cut monolithic sculptures of animals. Check out the next section to know more.
The other monolithic sculptures of Mahabalipuram Five Rathas
Besides the five rathas of Mahabalipuram, there are three other monolithic structures that you must check out. I have already mentioned two of them earlier and then there is a third on that is unmissable.
The Nandi facing Arjuna’s Ratha
This is the sculpted structure that I had talked of in the Arjuna’s Ratha section. You will need to walk right behind Arjuna’s Ratha to see it.
The Monolithic elephant by Nakul-Sahadev’s Ratha
This is the same elephant whose back is similar to the shape of Nakul and Sahadev’s Ratha. The monolithic elephant is quite well carved and stands tall amid the other Rathas and structures.
The Monolithic lion at the Pancha Rathas of Mamallapuram
Good-looking, majestic, and a perfect guardian of this set of Pancha Rathas, this guy faces the entrance and is rarely seen without any crowd. He seems just perfect to greet you and most likely, he is the one you will first cast your sight on. Naturally, the first thing that you will say when you reach the Mahabalipuram Pancha Rathas is “Wow!”.
Well, I suppose now you know why I feel three visits and the same fascination as the first one. Don’t you also, feel the same? And just so that you can get there, read my next section on the frequently asked questions about the Mamallapuram Pancha Rathas. With that and the booking resources section, you will be all set for your trip to these monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram.
FAQs about the Mahabalipuram five Rathas
What is the best way to reach Mahabalipuram?
Chennai is the closest airport to Mahabalipuram, It is around 58 km and has numerous international and domestic flights. It is also, the closest railway station to Mamallapuram. Once you arrive here, you can get to Mahabalipuram by road.
There are self-drive options as well as cabs available from Chennai. Alternatively, you can take one of the many tourist or public buses that ply between these two towns. Once in Mahabalipuram, you can easily find the Pancha Rathas and can use the local auto-rickshaws to get there.
Which is the best time to visit the Mahabalipuram Pancha Rathas?
The best season to visit Mahabalipuram is between October to March. Avoid the summers and monsoons between April to September.
The Pancha Ratha temples are best visited in the morning or evening. Avoid afternoons as it can get really hot.
Which is the best place to stay in Mamallapuram?
There are quite a few luxury hotels by the beach available in Mahabalipuram. This includes the Radisson Blu and the Welcomegroup hotels by ITC. You can also find a few mid-priced ones like Bodhiwood hotel that are just a walk away from the beach. For budget-conscious travelers, you can find homestays and hotels within INR 1500 per night like the Living Edge homestay.
What are the Mahabalipuram Pancha Rathas entrance fees?
The entrance to Pancha Rathas is INR 30 for Indians and INR 500 for the rest of the visitors. Cameras are not charged unless you are planning a professional videography. Do remember that this is a composite ticket for all the monuments included under the Group of monuments in Mahabalipuram – including the Shore Temple.
What are the Mamallapuram Pancha Rathas timings?
The Pancha Rathas timings are from 6 am to 6 pm every day. Avoid weekends as the place gets really crowded.
Which is the biggest ratha of the Pancha Rathas Mahabalipuram?
The Bhima Ratha is the biggest of the five Rathas of Mahabalipuram. It measures around 42 feet by 35 feet in size.
How many Pancha rathas are located in Mahabalipuram India?
There are five Pancha Rathas that have been named after the Pandavas – Yudhistra Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna ratha , Nakul-Sahadev Ratha and the Draupadi Ratha. In addition to these, there are three other monolithic structures in the same premises.
What do the Pancha Rathas resemble?
The Pancha Rathas are said to have been modeled after the chariots used in the olden days. These monolithic temples resemble some of the wooden chariots that were created back then.
Before you go, pin this
Booking Resources
- Booking.com has several good Mahabalipuram hotels listed on its site. You can choose from luxury hotels to mid-priced and budget ones.
- Viator.com offers several tours in and around Mahabalipuram. They have a self-guided audio tour of Mahabalipuram that can be downloaded here. You will also, find highly-rated tours from Chennai to Mahabalipuram with guides.
- GetYourGuide.com has a tour of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram available on their site that can be booked here.
- For any of your travel needs or general shopping, consider using Amazon through this link.
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, I will receive a small commission if you purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting me with this.
Popularly referred to as a Restless Ball of Energy. My Mom refuses to entertain my complaints about my equally restless daughter & assures my husband that I was born with a travel bug.
I am a Post-Graduate in Marketing by qualification and a travel blogger by passion. Besides travel, I enjoy photography and if you don’t find me at my desk, I would be out playing badminton or swimming or just running. I believe in planning for every long weekend through the year. And when I cannot travel physically, I travel virtually through this travel blog. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. I have recently published my first book – When Places Come Alive – a collection of stories that are based on legends, landscapes, art and culture of a place which is available in both ebook and paperback format.
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Amazing blog ! thanks for sharing.
Thanks
I have been here 2 times and I was mesmerised both the time. It is an incredible place which takes you in a bygone era
It is just fascinating. I can still go there and find something different.
Nice coverage of the sites at Mahabalipuram.
Thank you
Ami, being in Chennai, I actually lost count of the number of times I’ve visited Mahabs (yeah, that’s the petname we’ve given it!). No matter how many times I go, every time I manage to discover something new that I hadn’t noticed before that.
I can quite believe that. Each visit helps you find something amazing.
I am not usually amazed by temples, I have seen them in tens of countries but these are a bit different. The fact that they were made from 1 hillock and not built of stones etc is quite different. I have never been to southern India only to the north but it would seem like I am missing out. I will be back there toward the end of this year and have bookmarked this post to put on my list of places I must visit.
Thanks John. South India is a lot different from the north and has quite a few unique sites. Good that you have bookmarked this. You are most likely to enjoy this given your interest in heritage.
What a magnificent place, heard about Mahabalipuram but never about this place,you have shared so many infos. about this place that has made me crazy to visit this place as soon as possible.Thanks a lot for sharing and images are superb.
Thank you Jyotirmoy. You should definitely head there.
We had never even heard of this place, but it looks amazing. So much history to be found, and the details are awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
That’s so unbelievably amazing! Those monuments are unique in India – they look like sand sculptures! I’m fascinated! Another reason to come back to India (first being the northern mountains).
Trust me …these are quite unusual. Hope you get to India soon
I can see why you like to visit this place! I see the bell and I think I see the deities but I’m not sure about the faces.
Also, I think we should keep the Pancha Rathas story about the five brothers haha it’s not interesting when there is a story behind a name =P
🙂 Whatever the name, the art and the mystery is undeniable. Glad you too, found these interesting. Thanks for stopping by.
What an amazing site, Ami! I can certainly see why it would take you three visits to fully appreciate it. Thx for sharing.
Thank you Doreen and I can still do some more visits and find something else.
It’s good to know that these structures were preserved until now, considering that they were built many years ago. I would love to visit UNESCO’s heritage sites and these sites are on the list.
Thanks Joy and these are quite unusual. Hope you get to visit them soon.
I can see why you find the place fascinating! It is truly remarkable to think people without our technology built on that, I think the elephant is my favorite though, and not just because his back is cute.
Ha ha..yes the Elephant is cute. Rightly said that it is fascinating to see this being built without technology. One of its charm for sure. thanks for stopping by
Looks like something you would see in Egypt. I can’t believe things like this in the world exist! It’s amazing what humans can put together!
Totally. Don’t know about Egypt but these sure are amazing Indian ones.
Even though it is incomplete, it still indeed amazing how they made this! I always find it fascinating to walk in such amazing places where it has a lot of history and stories behind it. I often imagine myself what would it be like when I’m there at that time. Despite already learning about this though your post, I’d still be in awe to see it in person!
Thanks Stacey. Given the interest in heritage sites, I am sure you will fall in love with the ones in Mahabalipuram.
I am reminded of my trip there. Looks like a different world existed there years back. The carvings and forms speak so differently. I have this urge to go there again.
I know that urge….Maybe you should just drive down.
beautiful architecture. I initially thought those were sand sculptures like the ones made on the beach but it looks more like it was carved out of stone. very beautiful and intricate details
Yes, they do look like the sand sculptures. However, they are so much more amazing.
I enjoyed reading about this historic architecture. I do think a guide is a good idea, there’s so much to see. The Pancha Rathas is really stunning.
Thank you Danni. And I hope you get to this place soon.
I love how passionate you are about this site! It is really unique from any other UNESCO site that I have seen. The carvings are incredible and I love hearing the meaning behind the name!
Thanks Chantell. This place is amazing .
This place looks amazing! Carving the structures out of a hill is mind boggling! I’ve got to learn more about this place 🙂
Glad you like it John. You will definitely find a lot about these online.
The carvings are simply amazing with their level of detail and intricate designs.
Glad you think so too. Thanks for stopping by
Vishu has been here and always has a lot to say. This place is on my wishlist. You took me on a beautiful journey through the lovely pictures. Thanks.
Am sure Vishu will Plus one to this post. I hope you get to it sooner. Time to get him there again.
The Mahabalipuram ruins are amazing. The structures are gorgeous and intricate, but they also seem so delicate and vulnerable. They do look like they are made of sand and could be blown away by a strong breeze. The Golden Chariot journey sounds really wonderful. We’ve read your post on the train and the posts on different stops and we are seriously considering taking the Golden Chariot. The train seems a wonderful experience in itself and it takes you to many awesome sites.
The Golden Chariot is a magical journey alright and you are right to consider the same for your visit here. Hope you get to it soon.
Mahabalipuram is indeed fascinating and a place that draws you like a magnet, again and again. The Panch Rathas brought back visual imagery of the Mahabharata. I could almost hear the sound of the conches as the chariots readied for war. The post urges me to get there again.
Sigh, one time is never enough for this lovely site. Not surprised that you feel like going there again.
I just love history specially when it has to do anything with the Indian culture. Mahabalipuram seeme like a great place since i am fascinated by the Complete history of the place. I am going to make sure that I visit this place.
That would be a good trip Laveena. Am sure you will enjoy it all here in Mahabalipuram.
I have been to this place twice and I can go a few more times. 🙂 Love it and the stories about them.
It would have certainly been a different experience to go with Golden Chariot team. 🙂
Looking forward to more stories.
This place is quite mesmerizing and it definitely calls people again. The Golden Chariot indeed was quite interesting and added to the thrill of the place. You should definitely go Nisha.
Wow! This place looks totally amazing and very sandy colour looking. 🙂 Love to find out more about this place and go and explore it.
Danik, this place is quite interesting. Hope you have managed your research. Ping me if you want to know more. Cheers
What an enchanting place, I love the intricate details, everything looks so delicate. Never heard of this place before but now I want to go and explore! The Golden Chariot journey sounds great too! Thanks for sharing.
The Golden Chariot adds punch to the various destinations and am sure you will enjoy them all as you go along. Mahabalipuram is really awesome. Thanks Rosie for stopping by.
Holy smokes! This is unbelievable. I can’t help but want to book a ticket there right now. I have always found exploring centuries old lifestyles fascinating.
And am sure then you are going to so love this site. Hope you have already booked your tickets. 🙂
I loved the architecture of the Pancha Rathas! It gives the vibes of an ancient Indian architecture which is quite fascinating indeed!
These are some of our oldest sites and am glad that they survive today for us to know what it was back then. You should definitely check em out.
Great coverage of Mahabalipuram.. portrays the ancient Indian architecture of great admiration!
Thanks Maitreni.
I am totally in shock at how amazing the architecture is. I can’t believe they were able to create this stuff so long ago. And great post! Very informative!
Indeed fascinating to see such amazing architecture -all done by hand. Glad you liked it too Cassidy. Cheers
I did spot two of the three things you mentioned by the roof of Bhima’s ratha. And I think I finally found the hidden figures of the daities as well. Were there three of them? I wonder also why they built stairs from the first to the second floor but did not build anything to access the first floor at the Dharmaraja Ratha. What interesting history and a unusual place.
Bang on Agnes. I think there are more, just that I could also, see only three of those. I think the reason there are no stairs is that these might have been prototypes for the actual models elsewhere. 🙂
This looks absolutely fascinating! I wish I had been able to visit during my trip to India but that was over a decade over and I think a return visit is long overdue…adding it to my wishlist!
Time to plan for it now. 🙂 India does need more than one trip to cover the main parts of it. Cheers
Wow Mahabalipuram looks just incredible! I love temples and ancient history this looks like a place my kids and I would love to explore! I had never heard this so thanks for sharing!
This is down South of India which is fairly unexplored as compared to the North. Hence, not surprised that you have not heard of it. Hope you now can get to it soon.
Wow!! Great post 🙂 Ami…
Thank you