Panchapandava Cave Temple, Mahabalipuram

The Panchapandava Cave temple also known as Pancha Pandava temples and mandapa of Five Pandavas is a monument located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal at Mahabalipuram. The mandapa is a part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.

It is the largest cave temple and is an example of Indian rock-cut architecture dating from the late 7th century. It was situated near the open air rock relief of Arjuna's Penance.

Significance:

This temple is unfinished and the entrance is east facing. The temple has the longest rock shelter among Mahabalipuram Cave temples with a length of 15 m. There is a circumambulatory path (pradakshinam route) within the cave.

The pillars of the verandah have lion bases and are a typical style of Pallava architecture. There is a long chamber with a second row of four pillars and pilasters(two wall columns). At the entrance, the curved cornice(crowns a building) has a series of shrines with four central shrines extending outward.

How To Reach:

Mahabalipuram Bus stand is just 180 m away from the caves and can be reached easily by walk.