| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 Five Rathas of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), 630–668 AD | |
| Location | Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Part of | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram |
| Includes | |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (vi) |
| Reference | 249-001 |
| Inscription | 1984 (8th Session) |
| Coordinates | 12°36′31.7″N 80°11′22.6″E / 12.608806°N 80.189611°E |
  Location of Pancha Rathas in Tamil Nadu  Pancha Rathas (India) | |
Pancha Rathas (also known as Five Rathas or Pandava Rathas or Ainthinai kovil) is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the Chengalpattu district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Pancha Rathas is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. The complex was initially thought to have carved during the reign of King Narasimhavarman I (630–668 CE). However, historians such as Nagaswamy attributed all of monuments in Mahabalipuram to Narasimhavarman II (c. 690–725 CE) with the discovery of new inscriptions.[1] The complex is under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed by UNESCO in 1984 as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.[2]
Each of the five monuments in the Pancha Rathas complex resembles a chariot (ratha), and each is carved over a single, long stone or monolith, of granite which slopes in north–south direction with a slight incline.[3][4] Though sometimes mistakenly referred to as temples, the structures were never consecrated because they were never completed following the death of Narasimhavarman I.[3][4][5] The structures are named after the Pancha Pandavas and their common wife Draupadi, of epic Mahabharata fame.[2][4][6] In order of their size, they include the Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, and Draupadi Ratha.
- ^ M. T. Saju (17 May 2015). "Rediscovery of ancient transcript says Mamalla monuments were built by Rajasimha | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
- ^ a b Five Rathas, Plaque at the site, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle
- ^ a b c "Pancha Rathas, Mamallapuram". Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ^ "Mahabalipuram". UCLA Education, South Asia. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
- ^ "The Rathas, monolithic [Mamallapuram]". Online Gallery of the British Library. Retrieved 19 February 2013.