Architecture in Pallava Kingdom

Shora Temple and 7 pagodas of Mahabalipuram were the finest examples of Pallava art. Mahabalipuram was known as Mamalai or Mamallapuram in ancient times.

The main features of the Pallava architecture are as following:
• There was an evident change from the Rock Cut Architecture to the Stone built temples in Pallava architecture.
• The rock cut temples of the 7th century AD are the earliest examples of the Pallava architecture while during 8th and 9th century AD, structural temples were built.

Some of the famous temples built by Pallava King are as following:

Mandapattu rock cut temple
Mandapattu rock cut temple was a single rock cut temple, located near Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.
The temple is built without any metal, brick or metal and it has the icons of large Dwarapalas which showed as a major characteristic in all south Indian temples.

Kailasnathar Temple, Kanchipuram
The temple was built during the time of Narsimhamvaraman. The temple is one of the most beautiful temples in India.

Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

The temple is made of granite and was built during the time of Narsimhavarman. The temple comes under UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is an oldest example of structural temple. The two shrines of the temple are dedicated to Shiva while one is dedicated to Vishnu.

7 Pagodas

The term of 7 Pagodas is associated with the Shore temple of Mahabalipuram. The ancient city of Mamallapuram is known as the town of the seven pagodas.