Varaha Cave Temple
Varaha Cave Temple
4.5
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4.5
166 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
68
Average
15
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_ritamanning66
Ashby de la Zouch, UK161 contributions
Jan 2020
As you drive to the parking you are amazed by the site of the temples that make up this
Unesco world Heritage Site. Our guide explained the different temples, cave temples
which have never been completely finished. The Krishna Butterball is a most peculiar rock (very large) balancing most precariously on steep smooth slope.
We visited at a holiday time but this only added to our experience as local tourist outnumbered foreign visitors. Ladies in their beautiful saris everywhere.
Unesco world Heritage Site. Our guide explained the different temples, cave temples
which have never been completely finished. The Krishna Butterball is a most peculiar rock (very large) balancing most precariously on steep smooth slope.
We visited at a holiday time but this only added to our experience as local tourist outnumbered foreign visitors. Ladies in their beautiful saris everywhere.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Devendra G
India1,027 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
This is a rock cut cave temple in mahabalipuram. One can see the carvings of Lord Varaha and Vamana avatar of Lord Vishnu. The temple is very beautiful and this is one of the temples were worshipped is still carried out in Mahabalipuram.
Written 29 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siddhartha
Kolkata (Calcutta), India1,340 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Varaha cave temple is a rock cout temple situated group of monuments of Mahabalipuram. you can see inside depiction of Lord Varaha with Bhoomi devi. This is the only cave temple in Mahabalipuram where worship is conducted daily basis.
Written 19 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pranab Pal @paltravelogue
Navi Mumbai, India478 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
After seeing Ganesh Ratha, we moved further towards Varaha Cave Temple.
It's a rock - cut cave temple (behind Arjuna's Penace) near to the Light House.
This cave temple is one of the very best & fine testimonials of the Pallava Dynesty, built in the late 7th century .....
The Varaha Cave Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is one of the finest example of Indian rock - cut cave architectures & great sculptures. Its also a UNESCO World Heritage Site ......
The cave temple has beautifully moulded lion pillars, while the relief sculptures of Lakshmi, Durga and Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu are among the master pieces of Pallava arts.
The base of the temple forms a narrow water pool for pilgrims to use before entering the temple.....
At the centre of the rear wall, opposite to the entrance, guardian figures (dwarapalas) are carved on either side of the temple inner sanctum.
Inside, the wallls have four large mythological scenes carved in relief ....
Vishnu rescuing the earth, Vishnu taking three strides, Gaja Lakshmi and Durga are all impressive panels carved in the temple.
The side walls have carved panels of Vishnu as Trivikrama, and the northern panel, which is very large, depicts Vishnu as a huge incarnation of Varaha, the boar, lifting Bhudevi, the earth goddess.
In this panel, Varaha has four hands, two arms at the back carrying shankha & chakra and in his front arms he is carrying Bhudevi ........
Located on the rear wall, the Gaja Lakshmi panel is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
It is carved in perfect beauty where Lakshmi is shown holding a lotus flower and fawned by four attendants.
Two royal elephants are filling the water vessels held by the attendants ......
Another striking impressive panel also on the rear wall, is Durga panel indicative of victory over ignorance.
The panel depicts Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura who is in an anthromorphic forms of a human with a buffalo head ; the scene is reminiscent of a battle between good and evil forces ....
The Brahma panel is carved with Brahma having three heads in 'Sambhaga' or standing postures while Trivikrama panel depicts Vishnu as the Lord of the three worlds ......
Also seen in the cave temple , are panels with carvings of two images of Pallava kings and their queens.
A self - guided walking tour of the ruins in Mahabalipuram is an excellent way to see the sites including this Varaha Cave Temple .....
Just amazing !!! 👌
Worth spending some great time here and to admire the skill of those carvers who chiselled these out only with hand tools ...
A must visit place once in a life time !!! 👍
It's a rock - cut cave temple (behind Arjuna's Penace) near to the Light House.
This cave temple is one of the very best & fine testimonials of the Pallava Dynesty, built in the late 7th century .....
The Varaha Cave Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is one of the finest example of Indian rock - cut cave architectures & great sculptures. Its also a UNESCO World Heritage Site ......
The cave temple has beautifully moulded lion pillars, while the relief sculptures of Lakshmi, Durga and Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu are among the master pieces of Pallava arts.
The base of the temple forms a narrow water pool for pilgrims to use before entering the temple.....
At the centre of the rear wall, opposite to the entrance, guardian figures (dwarapalas) are carved on either side of the temple inner sanctum.
Inside, the wallls have four large mythological scenes carved in relief ....
Vishnu rescuing the earth, Vishnu taking three strides, Gaja Lakshmi and Durga are all impressive panels carved in the temple.
The side walls have carved panels of Vishnu as Trivikrama, and the northern panel, which is very large, depicts Vishnu as a huge incarnation of Varaha, the boar, lifting Bhudevi, the earth goddess.
In this panel, Varaha has four hands, two arms at the back carrying shankha & chakra and in his front arms he is carrying Bhudevi ........
Located on the rear wall, the Gaja Lakshmi panel is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
It is carved in perfect beauty where Lakshmi is shown holding a lotus flower and fawned by four attendants.
Two royal elephants are filling the water vessels held by the attendants ......
Another striking impressive panel also on the rear wall, is Durga panel indicative of victory over ignorance.
The panel depicts Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura who is in an anthromorphic forms of a human with a buffalo head ; the scene is reminiscent of a battle between good and evil forces ....
The Brahma panel is carved with Brahma having three heads in 'Sambhaga' or standing postures while Trivikrama panel depicts Vishnu as the Lord of the three worlds ......
Also seen in the cave temple , are panels with carvings of two images of Pallava kings and their queens.
A self - guided walking tour of the ruins in Mahabalipuram is an excellent way to see the sites including this Varaha Cave Temple .....
Just amazing !!! 👌
Worth spending some great time here and to admire the skill of those carvers who chiselled these out only with hand tools ...
A must visit place once in a life time !!! 👍
Written 29 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SaileshSarmah
Tinsukia, India236 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
A shallow cave of rock cut four pillars dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu. Caves & Pillars featuring wonderful work of art
Written 19 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JAGDISH RAVAL
Ahmedabad, India4,006 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
There are many Caves on a hill top at Mahabalipuram. This is also one of them. This is an example of Indian Rock-cut architecture dating from late 7th Century. Cave is also called Mandapam in south. Here is temple of Lord Vishnu in Varaha form. However the Varaha Cave Temple is not worshiped here. A nice master piece of Architectural Sculpture.
Written 24 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BharatKumarKondru
Hyderabad, India236 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
Varaha Cave Temple is a monolithic rock-cut temple with a mandapam. This cave dates back to 7th century and is constructed on the rocky walls of the granite hill. On the walls of mandapam, Lord Vishnu as Varaha along with the boar, holding Bhudevi, the earth goddess in his arms, is sculptured beautifully.
Written 20 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dilip S
Vadodara, India1,110 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
South west of the Ganesha Ratha and behind Arjun’s penance was a cave known as Varah mandap . the hall at the front had two lion pillars and two pilasters . Two dwarpals were guarding the cell beyond these pillars and pilasters .
There were four beautiful panels depictingVarah lifting the earth from the ocean . The snout of the Varah in the first panel had chiselled with Nazaqat and the head of deity was carved so aestheticallythat it fully blended with the contours of the remaining human body . Bhudevi ,Brahma , Rishis and the Sun were adoring him . The right foot of Varah rests on the hoods of Shesha . The flowers , lotus leaves and ripples suggested the ocean .
In the Gaj Lakshmi panel , Lakshmi was shown sitting on a lotus bloomed in a pond delineated by lotus leaves . Lakshmi wearing Suvarnavaikakshaka was flanked by two nymphs on either side carrying pots filled with water and two elephants to bath Her .
The third panel belonged to standing four armed Durga carrying the discus and the wheel in the upper hands . The lwer right hand was in abhay and the left one in katyavalambita mudras .She was flanked by an antelope and a lion . One of the two devotees near her feet and on her right was offering his cut head .
The last panel of Trivikram had Vishnu holding his bow , conch , discus, mace , shield and sword . The Sun and Moon suggested the celestial aura . Bali and other demons were at His feet . Brahma was adoring the uplifted foot of Vishnu and Jambuvant was beating a drum . The artist suggested the foot of Vishnu reached the heaven by showing Trishanku in mid air below that foot .
There were four beautiful panels depictingVarah lifting the earth from the ocean . The snout of the Varah in the first panel had chiselled with Nazaqat and the head of deity was carved so aestheticallythat it fully blended with the contours of the remaining human body . Bhudevi ,Brahma , Rishis and the Sun were adoring him . The right foot of Varah rests on the hoods of Shesha . The flowers , lotus leaves and ripples suggested the ocean .
In the Gaj Lakshmi panel , Lakshmi was shown sitting on a lotus bloomed in a pond delineated by lotus leaves . Lakshmi wearing Suvarnavaikakshaka was flanked by two nymphs on either side carrying pots filled with water and two elephants to bath Her .
The third panel belonged to standing four armed Durga carrying the discus and the wheel in the upper hands . The lwer right hand was in abhay and the left one in katyavalambita mudras .She was flanked by an antelope and a lion . One of the two devotees near her feet and on her right was offering his cut head .
The last panel of Trivikram had Vishnu holding his bow , conch , discus, mace , shield and sword . The Sun and Moon suggested the celestial aura . Bali and other demons were at His feet . Brahma was adoring the uplifted foot of Vishnu and Jambuvant was beating a drum . The artist suggested the foot of Vishnu reached the heaven by showing Trishanku in mid air below that foot .
Written 18 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AmitJ24
Bengaluru, India279 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Situated in the same complex as Krishna's butter ball, this small but exquisitely beautiful monolithic rock cut temple is a must visit.
Written 23 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AmitJ24
Bengaluru, India279 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
The intricate carvings of this monument are a sight to behold. Even after so many centuries, they are beautiful to see. Like many Mahabalipuram monuments, this is also monolithic in nature
Written 23 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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