A complex of monuments located on the coasts of the port side town is the Pancha pandava rathas, which is a fine example of monolithic and ancient Indian architecture. The five monoliths are named after the historical characters of the five pandavas – Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishthira, Nakula and Sahadeva of the Mahabharata epic. The site is well known for its exquisite architecture with the five edifices ready to blow your mind away. Built strong period of the Pallavas the site is now a world heritage site, honored by the UNESCO. Each of the five Rathas is solely dedicated to honour the five skilled warriors. It is a dream world of art sculpture and expressions with the chariots chiselled with precision and care. The carved rocks are a dream come true for architects and historians.

Mahabalipuram is an Open air museum with a treasure chest of India’s heritage. Topping the to do list is visiting Arjuna’s penance, a beautifully carved monolith. It is one of the largest bas reliefs in the world, given the honor of the world heritage site. This site is named after one of the great leaders of the Mahabharata epic- one of the Pancha Pandavas. The monolith was carved on the face of 2 huge boulders with a length of 96ft. The majestic rock sculpture is known as the Descent of the Ganges, depicting a scene from the Mahabharata where Arjuna undergoes rigorous penance to get Shiva’s weapon and destroy his enemies. Lord Shiva sent down the Ganges to answer his prayers hence both the names. The fascinating skill of the sculptures can be seen clearly in the minute Details and liveliness of the figures.