Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram) is a town in Chengalpattu district in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, best known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of 7th- and 8th-century Hindu Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. It is one of the famous tourist sites in India. The ancient name of the place is Thirukadalmallai. It is a part of Chennai Metropolitan Area. It is a satellite town of Chennai. Another name by which Mahabalipuram has been known to mariners, at least since Marco Polo's time is "Seven Pagodas" alluding to the that stood on the shore, of which one, the Shore Temple, survives

Quotes

 * Where frowns that sacred city hewn from stone, The plover cries, the jackall makes his moan.
 * Nicholas Michell, Ruins of Many Lands, 2nd ed. (1850), Book I, Part 3