Pallava Cave Temple of Pallavaram

By -



Pallavaram, a prominent locality near Chennai, holds a historical secret within its name. Derived from the ancient settlement of Pallavapuram, which dates back to the 7th century CE during the Pallava period, this locality boasts a rich heritage.

During this era, the renowned Pallava Emperor, Mahendravarma Pallava I, left his architectural mark on several locations, including Mamallapuram and Trichy. In the early 7th century CE, he oversaw the construction of a cave temple in Pallavapuram, now known as Pallavaram.

This cave temple earned the name "Pancha Pandava temple" and featured five cells facing the southern direction, complemented by six imposing pillars at the entrance. It is believed that the three central cells were dedicated to the deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, while all the cells were meticulously carved from a protruding rock formation.

Over the years, the cave temple was taken over, and a Dargah now occupies the site, erasing much of its original identity and ancient symbols.

The architectural plan and facade of this cave temple closely resemble another cave temple built by Mahendra Pallava in Mandagapattu. It comprises a pillared hall measuring 32 feet in length, 12.5 feet in width, and 9 feet in height. 

While the temple's original identity may have faded over time, its historical significance and architectural echoes continue to intrigue travelers and history enthusiasts alike.


 Happy travelling.





Location: Pallavaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Comments

  1. sudharsanTuesday, April 24, 2018

    can public visit the Pallava temple cave now in this day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indian ColumbusWednesday, April 25, 2018

      Yes, that's how I visited. I even took a group on heritage trip to this place few months ago.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tallest Murugan of Chennai

By -
Image
Consecrated in March 2021, the 40 feet high Bala Murugan icon at Saveetha Medical College campus is the tallest image of Murugan in Chennai. Malaysia has 140 feet tall Murugan. In April 2022, the 146 feet tall image of Murugan was consecrated near Salem in Tamil Nadu. However, they are all stucco images. But, the one that we find on the college campus is a monolithic granite icon. Thus, it is the tallest stone icon of Murugan in the entire world. A stone weighing 320 tonnes was brought from Siruvambur near Wallajah, and it was carved to 140 tonnes to get this beautiful and gigantic sculpture. The entire temple complex is designed in the shape of the Devanagiri letter "Om", which can be appreciated in the aerial view.  The west-facing gigantic sculpture is located atop the star-shaped pedestal. It dominates the entire landscape. A large meditation hall is situated below the pedestal. On the open corridor in front of the presiding deity, smaller shrines are found. They enshrine...
Read more

Little known Nimishamba Temple of Chennai

By -
Image
Site Name:  Nimishamba Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple Location:   Kasi Chetty Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   A rare temple of Nimishamba in Chennai city Nearest Railway Station:   Chennai - well connected from the cities/towns all over India Nearest Airport:   Chennai has both national and international airports How to reach:   Easily reachable by road as this is centrally located in the city Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Chennai Restaurants:  All options - vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Chinese, South Indian, Gujarati, North Indian, Punjabi,....- you can find everything in Chennai city Chennai is considered as the gateway to South India. The capital city of Tamil Nadu state of India has hundreds of tourist sites which include museum, British period monuments, temples, beach, etc. Let us explore a little known temple called Nimisham...
Read more

Hastinapuram Navapashanam Murugan Temple

By -
Image
Navapashanam is an amalgam of nine poisonous herbs. It is said to act as a remedy for all types of diseases. It is believed that the Siddhas knew the secret formula to prepare this medicinal potion.  The sculpture of Murugan from the famous Palani is claimed to be made of Navapashanam. Similarly, there is a lesser-known temple near Chennai, which has a Navapashanam Murugan. In Hastinapuram near Chrompet in the southern outskirts of Chennai, in a congested lane called Masjid Street, this tiny temple of Bala Murugan is situated. Murugan, made of Navapashanam, is the presiding deity.  Jalakandeeswara Linga, Meenakshi, and the Siddha who found this temple are the other Murtis found in the temple. Happy travelling.
Read more