Arrive in Chennai and take private vehicles along the scenic East Coast Road to the laid back beaches of Mamallapuram (approx 2 hrs).
Mamallapuram is a scenic fishing village. Embark on a bicycle tour, visiting the World Heritage-listed 7th-century Shore Temple and the massive bas-relief rock carving known as Arjuna's Penance.
There's also time to inspect the numerous mandapams (carved pillars in front of temples), watch stone carvers at work, see the fishing fleet or simply relax at a beach side restaurant. (Brochure)
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Train trip was uneventful...I slept like a baby but I am still a bit tired, recovering from my bout of "Delhi Belly". Others did not sleep as well as I did so they caught-up with a short nap, see picture below.
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| Mary & Jessie Snoozing |
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| Street Sweepers of Chennai |
The temps and humidity in Mamallapuram are like our worst summer time months in Virginia...you sweat like a pig. We waited until 15:00 before venturing out. We all started out riding a 1962 model bicycle with square wheels and loose handlebars. After a short trip to our first stop, I decide to join Mary in a tuk-tuk. Since it was hot, traffic unforgiving, no helmet and a decrepit bike... discretion took over.
What I learned today...The people of the Indian Tamil region located in southern India were the Venetians of the 3rd - 8th centuries. They traveled into the SE Asian peninsula spreading the Hindu religion in their wake. What you will see are stone carvings similar to what one sees when visiting Ankor Wat in Cambodia.....look at my South East Asia BLOG (www.greatindochinaloop.blogspot.com) to see the similarities.
Here are some to the sites: Balancing Rock Park and Varaha Caves - Similar Carvings to Ankor Wat
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| Huge Balanced Rock |
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| Varaha Caves |
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| How Rocks were cracked |
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| Lingam - Phallic Symbol |
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| Relief Carvings |
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| The God Visnu |
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| Intricate Stone Work |
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| Similar to Ankor Wat |
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| Jillian's Adopted Family |
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| Entrepreneur - The Parrot |
The Five Rathas - Carved out of piece of solid rock...5 temples. With each Hindu, there is a long story of intrigue, love, deception, etc.....and the names make one's head spin.
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Shore Temple - built long the Indian Ocean beach, there use to be such temples but they have been washed away by the sea and eroded by the wind.
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Miscellaneous Photos
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| Street- Wise Vendors |
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Jillian in the lead, followed by Jessie
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| Slooow Riders |
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| Dinner Selection - I had Prawns |
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