The Pagodas of Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram’s early history is shrouded in mystery. Stories passed from one generation to the next relate a large, beautiful city that once occupied the area, with seven pagodas so spectacular the gods became jealous and had six of them consumed by the ocean. Initially considered old wives’ tales, after the 2004 tsunami hit the area the ocean receded 500 metres, exposing a long, straight row of large rocks and some statues and small structures. The discovery prompted the Archaeological Society of India and the Indian Navy to search for other ruins in the area. They discovered that the row of large stones people had seen immediately before the tsunami, were part of a 70-metre wall. They also discovered remains of two other submerged temples and one cave temple within 500 metres of the shore. Although these findings do not necessarily correspond to the seven pagodas of myth, they do indicate that a large complex of temples did exist in Mahabalipuram.