Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

Group of Monuments at
Mahabalipuram
An appraisal of their management
A presentation by
Smt. Sathyabhama Badhreenath, Superintending Archaeologist
Chennai Circle, Archaeological Survey of India
Significance of
Mahabalipuram
Inscribed in World Heritage List in 1984
•Sangam literature
mentions existence of
temples built of
perishable materials
•Pallava king
Mahendravarman I (AD
580-638) claims that he
built a temple using nonperishable materials,
Which is essentially an
rock-cut temple, a
tradition as old as
Ashokan period
•His son,
Narasimhavarman I (AD
638-668) continued the
tradition of excavating
rock-cut temples
•Narasimhavarman I
made Mahabalipuram a
center of art and
architecture. In fact
remains of art of his
period are found only
here.
•In addition to rock-cut
temples,he introduced
Portrait sculpture of
carving of monolithic
Narasimhavarman
temples in the forms of
then existing temple
models
However, the best art creation of his time
are the bas-relief sculptures
•Narasimhavarman I
Mamalla,
Paramesvaravarman and
Narasimhavarman II
Rajasimha continued to
patronize the art and
architectural endeavors
•Mahabalipuram, the chief
port of the Pallavas,
became the chief center of
art and architecture, most
of them original in
conceptualization
•Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha (AD 700-728)
went a step further to create a structural templethe Shore temple complex
•Then onwards, building of structural temples
became the paradigm
•Thus Mahabalipuram not only remained a
center of art up to the times of Rajasimha but
also the center of experimentation
•Served as models for later generations
Mahabalipuram:Structural
management
•Being carved out of live
rock, the monuments
require less structural
interventions
The proximity to sea has caused immense
damage to the structure.
The joints have widened and sculptures
defaced due to weathering.
But the selection of the site by constructing
the temple on a bed jutting into the sea had
saved the structure from collapsing even
though the waves used to lash it until few
decades ago.
Exposing the
original features of
Draupadi & Arjuna
rathas by clearing
accumulated sand
Before
After
Mahabalipuram: Usage Management
Visitors Statistics
Year
Number
of Indian
visitors
Number
of foreign
visitors
2007
802000
171055
2008 (Jan
March)
to 223295
32374
Mahabalipuram; Usage Management,
HUDCO’s Plan
HUDCO developed
a master plan for
the development of
core area of Shore
Temple, Arjuna’s
Penance and Five
Rathas keeping in
view the visitors
flow
HUDCO’s Development
At Shore temple area
•Developed an integrated parking lot
complex (PLC) with ticket counter
•Landscaped Walkway to Shore
temple
•Relocated souvenir shops to PLC
• Approach road widened
•Provided modern signages
Walkway and
Landscaping by
CPWD under
HUDCO Plan
HUDCO’s Development
At Five rathas area
•Developed a Crafts Plaza
(CP) with aesthetic
&conforming architecture
•Relocated Stone Crafts
shops to CP
•Approach road widened
•Provided modern
signages
HUDCO Development
Plan:
Arjuna’s Penance area
•Widening of roads and closing them for
traffic.Parking will be done at PLC
•Relocation of Bus stand to a new location, this
will stop traffic around the monument
•Provision of modern signages
HUDCO Development Plan:
Implementation
•All the structural works and landscaping
will by done by CPWD. Works in Shore
temple complex is over.Rest in progress.
•Land acquisition will be done by the
revenue authorities/state government
agencies
•ASI will be the nodal agency and
beneficiary
Other measures undertaken:
Relayed the pathway in the hillock area for easy access to the
monuments and landscaping the area around the hillock
Fenced Hillock monuments to prevent entry of unauthorized
persons/animals
Mahabalipuram:Natural Factors Management
•The effect of sea and saline atmosphere
is better known. The efforts of Chemistry
branch in tackling the effect is well
recorded.
•However, the recent Tsunami waves has
thrown open many questions
Mahabalipuram:Natural Factors Management
•Tsunami caused little damage to the Shore
temple
•The groyne wall built around the temple
played its role in saving the temple
•The waves still entered the complex from the
southern edge of the wall
•Huge deposits of sand and slush within the
complex
•Exposed the buried base the sculptured rocks
Mahabalipuram:Natural Factors Management
The Groyne Wall
A
C
B
A : Stone revetment wall
1905-06
B : Wall of concrete
blocks 1939-40
C : Groyne wall of
boulders 1980’s
Still the waves entered in
this direction in 2004
Revetment wall of 1905-06
Wall of concrete blocks 1939-40
Groyne wall of boulders 1980’s
With first revetment wall in background not
removed as a precaution
Effects of Tsunami- Deposition of
sand in the Shore temple complex
Effects of Tsunami- Deposition of sand in the
Shore temple complex
Effects of Tsunami- Deposition of sand in the
Shore temple complex
Effects of Tsunami- Exposed
base in the Shore temple complex
Effects of Tsunami- Exposed base in the Shore
temple complex
Effects of Tsunami- Damaged fencing in the
Shore temple complex
Are we prepared for the next Tsunami?
How safe is the groyne wall?
•A detailed study of the coastal morphology around
Mahabalipuram
•A detailed study of the stability of the groyne wall and
the Shore temple after Tsunami wave
•Efficacy of extending the wall
These points will be studied by the
National Institute of Ocean Technology,
Chennai and ASI
Effects of Tsunami- Exposed rock in the
withdrawing waves
Are there any more structural remains?
The so-called submerged temples!
Administrative Machinery for implementing the
management policy
Superintending Archaeologist (Overall in charge)
Site Management Staff
Senior Conservation Assistant
Foreman
Booking Clerk
Monument Attendants
Private Security Guards
Thank you for your keen attention
Siva with Tandu,Dharmaraja ratha