Varaha Cave Temple - Tamilnadu - Monuments
A city so beautiful that even the Gods were jealous of it. Mahabalipuram, the land that went under the sea after incurring the wrath of the Gods because it was so exquisite that the jealous gods decided to send it under the sea. The city, which was built by King Mahendravarman who belonged to the Pallava dynasty, currently retains only one of the seven temples whereas the remaining 6 temples are believed to be cast down under the ocean.
The Varaha Cave temple is an ancient cave temple which was built according to the customs of ancient times. This monument is a live example of how temples where constructed and visited during those days. The entrance of the monument is thronged by pillars which are supported on the base by chiseled lions.
A neatly carved and dug up area can be seen at the entrance of the monument. This was probably filled with water and intended for devotees to wash their feet before entering the temple. A number of sculptures on the wall depict the stories of the Hindu god, Lord Vishnu in his Varaha avatar.
This monument was once dedicated to the reverence of Lord Varaha when Lord Vishnu turned into a boar and rescued Mother Earth (Bhoomi Devi) from the clutches of a demon. Many other sculptures of Gods and Goddess is depicted on the wall. This monument is one among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is a witness to thousands of tourists and history enthusiasts.
How To Reach :
By Air - The Chennai airport is at a distance of 58 kilometers from the Varaha cave monument.
By Rail - The nearest railway station is situated in Chennai at a distance of 45 kilometers from the monument.
By road - Mahabalipuram is well connected by road and a number of public transports and taxi services which you can hire to reach the place.