Kat's 18th Birthday

Granite Carvings

Sat 31st July 2010


This is how Kat's day started

The Pancha Rathas Shrines


They were carved during the reign of King
Mahendravarman I
"Who was a Pallava King who ruled the Northern regions of what forms present day Tamil Nadu in India the early 7th century He was the son of Simhavishnu who defeated the Kalabhras and re-established the Pallava Kingdom.


Each temple is a monolith,carved whole from a rock outcropping of pink granite.
The five monolithic pyramidal structured shrines are named after the Pandavas ( Arjuna,Bhima,Yudhishtra,Nakula,Sahade Draupadi.)

as noted,eachshrine is not assembled from cut rock but carved from one single large piece of stone.It is likely their original design traces back to wood construction.

Yudhishtir's Ratha

Lion sculpture amongst the five

Rathas

Bhima's Ratha

Elephant sculpture amongst

Five Rathas

Fruit and vegetable Cart

Anyone for a drink of coconut milk It's very refreshing

Tiger’s Cave

Located in a Village named Saluvankuppam,which is around 5 km from

Mamallapuram you can reach this place easily either from Chennai or Mamallapura

located on East Coast road ( ECR )

The distance of Tiger's Cave from Chennai is about 52kms.

Tiger’s Cave is a place where you can find rock cut temples and sculptures

Tiger’s Cave got its name from a cave set apart among the rocks with a crown of carved tiger heads around the temple.

In fact, it is a misnomer as you cannot find tiger’s figures but massive Yazhis (a mythological animal).

You cannot find any deity in this temple which is believed to be dedicated to the goddess Durga.

There are large and impressive figures located in front of the caves.

The rock has carvings which tell some events related to the goddess Durga, and hence it is

believed to be a temple of durga.

This rock cut temple belongs to the period between 7th century AD and 9th century AD.

This can be considered as one among the sculptures and temples in Mamallapuram

built by Pallava Kings Narasimhavarman and Rajasimhavarman.

The Tsunami in 2004 washed away the sand and unearthed a rock cut shiva temple and an ancient muruga temple

Temple

This rock was used as a lookout in Wartime

They cut holes to enable climbing of the rock

Radisson Resort, Temple Bay,Mamallapuram

Spent the afternoon here for kat's birthday

Main Building

A friendly little squirrel

White throated Kingfisher

This is a large Kingfisher 28cm in length

The adult has a bright blue back,wings and tail

It's head shoulders,flanks and lower belly are chestnut,and the throat and breast are white

The large bill and legs are bright red.

The flight of the white-throuted Kingfisher is rapid and direct,the short rounded wings whirring.

In flight,large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings.

Sexes are similar,but juveniles are a duller version of the adult

Sorry to say I was not quick enough with taking the next photo

and this beautiful bird flew away

Accommodation each side of this pool

The girls and I enjoying the day

Relaxing by the pool

Enjoying the moment and then!!!!

Mark has just been blessed by a local bird!!

Cleaning his face

Isn't it good luck for this to happen!!

What a view

This is our view from our table while eating our lunch

Our lunch

Mark had Tiger prawn's

Meg'z lunch

Spaghetti always Spaghetti

I had Yummy

Atlantic Salmon

Kat enjoyed Lamb Chops

Kat's 1st legal drink!!

Cheers Kat Happy 18th

Mark enjoying the view

Meg'z Being cool

Where we had our lunch

The Wharf

Sister's

We went to a Restaurant called Tuscana for Dinner to finish of Kats Birthday

Tuscana is near mocca Restaurant,3rd street,Nungambakkam,chennai