Ratha Cave Temples

It is located on a hillock next to the open rock relief of Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram). It is constituted by an originally open-air bas-relief dedicated to Lord Krishna, dating to the mid-seventh century, which was later enclosed within a mandapa in the 16th century during the Vijayanagara Empire.

The scene that is carved shows Krishna surrounded by ‘gopis’ who stand amazed and Radha, his childhood lover decorated with a crown & ornaments. Another scene is of a cowherd milking the cow, the animal liking the calf in the most natural loving way. Close to this is a Gopi holding a pile of milk pots and balancing fodder on her head. There are also beautiful carvings of a cowherd playing the flute, a little child in the arms of his mother, an old man carrying a baby on his shoulder, a woodcutter walking with his axe. In one of the panels, Krishna is also seen playing his flute, along with a bull carved to perfection. So realistic & detailed are these carvings, it feels like one is in the moment, witnessing the events as they are happening around. As history reveals, the cave has nine reliefs that were sculpted in the 7th Century under the rule of Narasimaha Varma, with additions made on them through during the 16th Century. Although the design & layout is simple with minimal decorations, it is one of the oldest ones in Mahabalipuram. The process of creating Krishna Cave Temple was in multiple steps. First the artisans worked on the outline on the rock face, which was then polished to refine and highlight the outline. Then column were cut in the polished surface where they later created square panels. On these square panels, chisels were used to carve the beautiful scenes. With the tradition of stone carving still alive in the city & rhythmic sound of the hammer & chisel give us a tiny glimpse into how these magnificent monuments came into being, infinite number of years ago. The Krishna’s cave, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, is fondly visited by history & art lovers from all around the world.