Solid rocks revisited, a photo from Tamil Nadu, South

Photographer's Note

This may look like yet another Hindu temple, but it's actually a sculpture cut out of a huge rock. It is one of the monuments known as the Pancha Ratas (Five chariots) in Mahabalipuram in southern India.

Seven years ago I posted another photo from this place:

https://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=7&p=1458898

The monument in today's main photo is located to the right of what is seen in the old photo. I quote a paragraph from my earlier note:

"The Pancha Rathas may look like temples, but they should rather be described as sculptures, carved out of solid granite rocks. They were created during the late 7th century and were the first of their kind in India. After the death of King Narasimhavaram I in 680 they were not finished and were never consecrated, according to Wikipedia".

In the WS are two photos of bas-reliefs from other monuments in Mahabalipuram. All photos were scanned from Kodachrome slides.

Fis2, ikeharel, pajaran, jhm, Royaldevon, pierrefonds, jean113, burmaman, ChrisJ, jemaflor, PaulVDV, adramad, ricardomattos, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (156870) 2021-02-06 0:41

Hello Gert, today we're neighbors again, I'm happy!

A very interesting place, view makes impression.
Impressive sculpture in one piece of rock.
Good framing, colors and sharpness, I likw WS too, curious detail.
Well done.
Have a good weekend.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (106433) 2021-02-06 0:52

Outstanding scupture, Gert, wonderful carved details onto the giant rock. Wonder how it goy there to begin with.
Anyway, worth visiting monument.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

pajaran (103781) 2021-02-06 1:11

Pozdrav.
Lepa stara arhitektura, dobro pokazana sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i dobrim tekstom.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici, lepi detalji na fasadi.
Lepa fotografija i Hindu temple.
Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja.

jhm (204077) 2021-02-06 1:43

Hello Gert,

We get a nice view, to see where maybe much 20 years work at have been, and everything with the hand
This cares for to depth and perspective.
An excellent composition and nice presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Silvio1953 (207145) 2021-02-06 2:51

Ciao Gert,great view of fantastic temple, lovely composition well framed by tree, wonderful colors, fine details, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Royaldevon (76832) 2021-02-06 4:21

Hello Gert,

We do learn so much from TE members, from their personal experiences. Your main photograph is very interesting, as well as being a fine scan. I wonder if these were ever meant to have an inside to them, they certainly look like temples!
The seated figure and bending tree make good f/g features, almost leading to the huge sculpture and creating a sense of depth to the figures in the b/g.

I love the rich carvings featured in your w/s. Elephants were obviously so much part of the everyday life of these early people.

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)

pierrefonds (104558) 2021-02-06 4:41

Hi Gert,

The presence of the persons has an effect of scale. The point of view is showing the details of the sculpture. The light is giving nice tints to the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

everlasting (18130) 2021-02-06 8:11

a very well preserved and scanned image, fine details to be seen on the temple and the women under the shade of the tree are compositionally in the right place.

jean113 (22657) 2021-02-06 10:08

Hello Gert, this must have been a huge piece of rock, the carving is really impressive. The skill of cutting all the figures, animals and designs must have taken a very long time. The fact that it is still in such good condition is a credit to the Indian people.
The two people in the foreground add a little colour as well as a guide to our conception of the scale.
I love the elephants on the w/s picture.
Excellent scans.
Kind regards, Jean.

burmaman (1082) 2021-02-06 10:15

Hello Gert!
Excellent quality of this old scan, could have taken too these days with a digital cam.Fine composition with these two persong in bright, colorful dress.
Regards,Ronny

Tue (83106) 2021-02-06 11:19

Hej Gert,
Denne store skulptur ser imponerende ud, især hvis man ved at den blev helt hugget ud af sten. Du fangede den meget godt med træet i forgrunden og to mennesker der sidder ved dets fod. Lyset var også ganske fint.
Lars

jmdias (103992) 2021-02-06 11:19

gert

I presume ellora and ajanta caves got its experience here before where the civilization learned as to sculpt rocks.. very beautiful monument. I liked the tree and the personages too. marvelous carvings.

take care

jorge

lousat (130709) 2021-02-06 15:30

Hi Gert,very interesting post,the main monument seems brand new and not a sculpture born from a very big rock,excellent capture and 2 useful WS showing rich details of these very old decorations,i like it! Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

ifege (33729) 2021-02-06 19:02

HI Gert
3 very impressive scenes of massive rock carvings - amazing work!
cheers
Ian

ChrisJ (161262) 2021-02-06 22:08

Hello Gert,

Excellent sharpness and the tree at right provides a good frame. The people in red and blue add a strong warm vs cold colour contrasts as well as scale. Impressive reliefs on the temple façade. Tfs!

jemaflor (136366) 2021-02-06 23:38

Hi Gert,
a temple well presented good photo, quality and composition with people, nice colors, perfect exposure, tfs.

emka (153358) 2021-02-06 23:38

Hello Gert, These five chariots are what I missed in Mahabalipuram. Why we couldn't find it? It is a mystery. The elements of it are similar like in the Shore Temple.
Amazing that it is cut of the rock. But at least I have seen the temples of Adjanta and Ellora, also carved out of the hard rock but in a much bigger scale and more impressive. Nice tree, it could be casuarine.
Nice also WS. I prefered other parts of this amazing sculpture, my favorite was milking the cow.

Have a nice Sunday. The forecast for Poland is big snow and heavy frost in the coming hours.
Malgo

PaulVDV (55593) 2021-02-07 9:01

Hello Gert,
Without your note, I would have thought this was a temple.
The rock has been wonderfully transformed into a giant work of art.
Wonderful bas reliefs!
What you show in your first WS reminds me a bit of the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Wat.
Nice addition of the colourful figure sitting under the tree.
Best regards, Paul

adramad (67624) 2021-02-07 9:09

Hi Gert.
Three great photos of Mahabalipuram, in this case the scan worked as well as always, I remember very well this magical place with so much beauty in its temples and the great carved rock, all of this you captured with your customary skill.
A great photo, with very good color, very well managed both the lighting and the sharpness.
Well done. I like.
Good Sunday and Happy start to the week.
All the best for you.
Luis.

GyurMaster (21783) 2021-02-07 10:46

Dear Gert,

This place is worthy to be revisited. I like the lonely tree and the people in the fg, and how they broke the monotonous colours of the monument. I like the WS too. Knowing how dirty the imagination of Indian sculptors could be I was wondering what the woman hold in her hands in the WS :)

Have a nice evening!
Best Wishes,
Gy.

ricardomattos (15582) 2021-02-07 16:03

Hi Gert,

Fantástica esta obra de arte religiosa hindu. Muito bem esculpida e trabalhada. Os WS são igualmente bonitos e interessantes. Esta foto ficou linda sob todos os aspectos.
Belo trabalho !

Parabéns e abraço

Ricardo

COSTANTINO (105083) 2021-02-08 21:44

hello dear Gert and have a nice day
I red carefully your useful notes...
The Pancha Rathas may look like temples
but they should rather be described as
sculptures
IMPRESSIVE presentation...
sometimes one shot is one
thousand words
regards
Costantino

Ilonka1974 (9619) 2021-02-10 10:58

Hi Gert,
Beautiful picture, Excellent presentation.
Very good composition.
Grat quality.
Best regards
Janusz

kasianowak (15984) 2021-02-22 14:41

Hi Gert
It's fascinating to see a giant sculpture that looks like a temple. This is probably the colour of stone you meant to show in your other post. :-) The stone here looks lovely bathed in sunshine.
Talking of colour the person in the bottom right corner adds a lovely point of focus.
Best wishes
Kasia
PS. Thanks for the link to the other photo. It's in my favourites collection already!