Important Facts For Prelims
Shore Temple
- 12 Dec 2019
- 1 min read
Why in News
The shoreline on the northern side of the Shore temple in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu is facing severe sea erosion.
- Shore Temple is one among a number of Hindu monuments at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu.
- It is considered the finest early example of medieval southern Indian temple architecture.
- It was built probably in the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha (Pallava ruler) who reigned from 700 to 728 CE.
- Unlike most of its neighbours at the site, it is built of cut stones rather than carved out of caves.
- It has two shrines, one dedicated to Shiva and the other to Vishnu.
- It has been built in Dravidian style. Its style is characterized by a pyramidal kutina-type tower that consists of stepped stories topped by a cupola and finial, a form quite different from the northern Indian sikhara.
- The Mamallapuram monuments and temples, including the Shore Temple complex, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.
