The Stone Crafting Tradition of Mahabalipuram

Walking the streets of the small town of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, amidst the hustle and bustle of the tourists moving around, one would most often than not notice only rocks, rocks and only rocks.

The rock art carving is simply an enthralling tradition, the art of which has been passing on from generation to generation. It is simply amazing to notice the way these artists work on their rough and crude stones and convert them to works of art. It is very much similar to a painter, painting on an empty canvas.

The history of this art form dates back to the 7^th century, during the dynastic rule of the Pallavas, who were also the rulers of Kanchipuram at the time. The advent of the art form can be traced back to the construction of structures like the Shore Temple and other similar structures which have now been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.