We had breakfast on the early side, then checked out of the hotel. At 8:45 Balla and Vijaiya met us and took us on the drive to Mamallapuram. The Pallava seaport was at Mamallapuram and it has since become a World Heritage Site. We made three spectacular stops.
Our first was at a field of erratic boulders with carvings into some of them. In Pangaea times India was close to Anarctica and covered in glaciers. The glaciers melted and huge granite boulders dropped out of the ice. From these the Pallava carvers created a huge Penance carving. There is also a cave carved from the rocks that remained unfinished, and other cave carved from rocks that showed a famous Krishna legend. A village was becoming inundated by a huge storm. The people of the village asked Krishna for help. His solution was to lift the hill over the people of the village and kept them out of the rain.
Our second stop was at a temple that was built along the sea.
Our third stop was a series of temples, and figures built from one huge chunk of granite that originally had been in the shape of a whale. Each of the buildings had different roof styles. There were elephants. The details of the roof lines were amazing, but most of the bottom of the buildings were incomplete.
We went to a Raddison Hotel in Mamallapuram and had a buffet lunch. It was pretty good. The setting was delightful. They had built a large, open porch area at the front that was cool and pleasant to sit in, which was nice because we had to wait for lunch.
After lunch we drove to the airport, dropping Vijaiya off new her house. The weather by the beach had been unbelievably hot, but apparently it had poured rain in the city. Since there is no drainage system, a decent rain storm causes huge puddles to build up along the sides. This makes the scooters, bikes and took tuks drive around the mini lakes, and the traffic goes completely to pieces. We eventually got to the airport, but the traffic in the opposite direction was SO awful, I suggested to Balla that he go to a hotel for the night. Flight uneventful. We were met at the baggage counter by a guy who said that he was our airport porter. We learned by our actual guide, Buskar that the airport is private. Regular porters, guides, et al aren't allowed at the airport beyond certain levels.
We are staying at the Taj Falaknuma Palace It's a real palace. We were driven to the gates of the bell tower and our suitcases were taken in a golf carts. We got out and took a horse cart up the hill. Charlie and I were treated like visiting Nizams. We didn't get dinner until 9:30, but ate in an elegant Indian restaurant in the palace. The dish of choice is Bryani Rice. It's delicious, but we ended up ordering too much.
Our first was at a field of erratic boulders with carvings into some of them. In Pangaea times India was close to Anarctica and covered in glaciers. The glaciers melted and huge granite boulders dropped out of the ice. From these the Pallava carvers created a huge Penance carving. There is also a cave carved from the rocks that remained unfinished, and other cave carved from rocks that showed a famous Krishna legend. A village was becoming inundated by a huge storm. The people of the village asked Krishna for help. His solution was to lift the hill over the people of the village and kept them out of the rain.
People catering to the tourists at Mamallapuram
Great optical illusion
Aha, the trick is revealed - it's center of gravity is not like a ball
More erratics piled up
A temple carved out of the rocks. Vijaya is walking into the temple. It was VERY hot, hence her umbrella
Charlie examining the pillars carved at the front of the temple - they weren't for support - purely for decoration
The carving inside the temple. The Krishna carving's arm has a space between his arm and the wall. Really interesting
Inside the area, a man offering coconuts for sale to the tourists. A fresh coconut snack
This wall of carvings was from an enormous boulder. Full sized elephant and calf, lots of depictions of gods, demons, a full carving showing Hindu myths and legends. It is spectacular
A closer look
Our second stop was at a temple that was built along the sea.
The ocean was nearby with waves large enough for decent surfing, the area was lovely with a breeze, and of course the temple was fascinating. Clearly, an area for lots of tourists and lots of people to sell things to them
The writing on the Coca Cola sign is in English, of course, and in Tamil.
These people were sweeping the field with straw brooms. They reminded me of the Van Gogh painting
The seaside temple. It was made out of sandstone that apparently had been dragged to this spot. The casuara trees in the background grow quickly and support sand walls. They were put in to keep the sea out. Over the centuries, the sea eroded much of the carving.
Us in front of the temple with the ocean in the distance
The temple without us
This stone cutter and his comrades were preparing and excavating the temple.
The machine in the photo above is to make sugar cane juice.
Our third stop was a series of temples, and figures built from one huge chunk of granite that originally had been in the shape of a whale. Each of the buildings had different roof styles. There were elephants. The details of the roof lines were amazing, but most of the bottom of the buildings were incomplete.
Charlie and I are standing on one end of the scene. Notice the full sized elephant carving behind us
The four main temple carvings. The roof lines were very different. The long one looked almost Dutch
We went to a Raddison Hotel in Mamallapuram and had a buffet lunch. It was pretty good. The setting was delightful. They had built a large, open porch area at the front that was cool and pleasant to sit in, which was nice because we had to wait for lunch.
A crow that was hopping around the hotel outdoor lounge area.
After lunch we drove to the airport, dropping Vijaiya off new her house. The weather by the beach had been unbelievably hot, but apparently it had poured rain in the city. Since there is no drainage system, a decent rain storm causes huge puddles to build up along the sides. This makes the scooters, bikes and took tuks drive around the mini lakes, and the traffic goes completely to pieces. We eventually got to the airport, but the traffic in the opposite direction was SO awful, I suggested to Balla that he go to a hotel for the night. Flight uneventful. We were met at the baggage counter by a guy who said that he was our airport porter. We learned by our actual guide, Buskar that the airport is private. Regular porters, guides, et al aren't allowed at the airport beyond certain levels.
We are staying at the Taj Falaknuma Palace It's a real palace. We were driven to the gates of the bell tower and our suitcases were taken in a golf carts. We got out and took a horse cart up the hill. Charlie and I were treated like visiting Nizams. We didn't get dinner until 9:30, but ate in an elegant Indian restaurant in the palace. The dish of choice is Bryani Rice. It's delicious, but we ended up ordering too much.
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