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Arjuna's Penance

W. Raja St, Mahabalipuram, India
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Type: Landmarks/ Points of Interest
Description: This bas-relief with life-size images from a mythical story adorns a huge rock.
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73 reviews from our community

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Gateshead, England
Top Contributor
98 reviews 98 reviews
55 attraction reviews
Reviews in 32 cities Reviews in 32 cities
41 helpful votes 41 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 10, 2013

This really is an excellent sight to see. A huge thirty metre long and about fifteen metre tall rock carving representing Arjuna's Penance. The detail is superb and your eyes are drawn to the two huge elephants which seem to be the focus. It's easy to find this place and is free of charge. There are also many other delights... More

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See 5 more reviews by SteveJacksonnufc for Mahabalipuram
San Francisco
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

Good to see olden time rock carving skills. Place was very exciting to see though the heat was too hot to handle. Get a local guide who can explain about these monuments in detail for a better experience.

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Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), India
Senior Contributor
37 reviews 37 reviews
20 attraction reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 3, 2013

Anjunas Penance is a symbol of the most creative artsmen who lived during this period. Arjuna's Penance is an absolutely spectacular, monumental rock sculpture, unique in my experience. Beautifully carved, I would have loved to revisit several more times, as I know I missed some of the detail in just one viewing.

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See 4 more reviews by Rohan_iiitc for Mahabalipuram
New York City, New York
Top Contributor
72 reviews 72 reviews
33 attraction reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 25, 2013

Arjuna's Penance is an absolutely spectacular, monumental rock sculpture, unique in my experience. Beautifully carved, I would have loved to revisit several more times, as I know I missed some of the detail in just one viewing. My favorite "attraction" in Mahabalipuram.

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bloomsbury london
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
9 attraction reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 15, 2013

Just awe inspiring and very beautiful. I retunred to mahaballipuram a few weeks later to see it (and some of the other sites - Tiger Cave and the 5 Rathas in particular) again.

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See 3 more reviews by catherine014 for Mahabalipuram
Wakefield, United Kingdom
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 12, 2013

Dislikes, too many traders plying their wears, but the monkeys tend to outnumber them. Love the Fabulous carvings if elephants so intricate, well worth a visit and its FREE.

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See 7 more reviews by PatriciaAnn1948 for Mahabalipuram
Brussels, Belgium
Top Contributor
81 reviews 81 reviews
56 attraction reviews
Reviews in 30 cities Reviews in 30 cities
23 helpful votes 23 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 12, 2013

This was carved in an era which was not even iron age - which means the whole thing was carved by rock itself. Stunning !

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See 4 more reviews by KhatriRocks for Mahabalipuram
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 10, 2013

As the name itself clarifies that this is the place where Arjuna did his penance. The view from this place is awesome. There is another tower which is visible from this place you can also visit that when you visit Arjuna's Penance

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See 2 more reviews by TapasyaKaulRajaram for Mahabalipuram
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
11 attraction reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 1, 2013

A fantastic Bass relief. Great detail and complex design. Every part of the carving reflects work by master craftsmen What is amazing is that it just sits there on a busy road, freef or all to see. In most parts of the world this would be a major attraction with a high entry fee

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Mumbai (Bombay), India
Top Contributor
90 reviews 90 reviews
37 attraction reviews
Reviews in 27 cities Reviews in 27 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 1, 2013

This is definitely worth a visit. The stories behind the carvings would be interesting to listen to - so do ask the guide what the different carvings depict.

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See 4 more reviews by smb2011 for Mahabalipuram

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