Shore Temple

 Prime Minister NarendraModi and Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the sea-facing Shore Temple on the first day of their second informal summit in Mamallapuram  The Shore Temple (built in 700–728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal.

 It was built probably in the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha (Pallava ruler) who reigned from 700 to 728 CE.  It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. At the time of its creation, the site was a busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty.

 As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India.

Advertisement