Pancha Rathas (also known as Five Rathas or Pandava Rathas or Ainthinai kovil) is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, Each of the five monuments in the Pancha Rathas complex resembles a chariot (ratha), and each is carved over a single, long stone. Nice place!!! Still Lot to know about our History..

It’s worth visiting this place. It is one of the monuments in Mahabalipuram. Avoid public holidays. It was too crowded when we visited on local festival public holiday. We couldn’t take proper pictures. Do hire a guide to know the history and significance of it. There are government authorized guides available. It will take around 30 mins to see this place. Entry fee is just Rs40 which is for all monuments nearby.

Panch rathas temple is one of the last points in the mahabalipuram temple trail. It is a series of five temples. The esepciality being that it is built on a single monolithic rock. The five temple are named after the pandava brothers. In another story, the five temple are dedictaed to hindu trinity. The temple has abeautiful architecture and is a must visit.

The Five Rathas are located a short distance south of Mahabalipuram's Hill Area, nestled among the landscape. These magnificent structures are monolithic, meaning they were hewn from solid rock, resembling chariots – the very rathas for which they are named. Crafted during the reign of Narasimha Varman in the 7th century, they are among the earliest examples of their kind in India. Each of the five monoliths symbolizes a ratha, representing the five Pandava brothers from the epic Mahabharata. The temples are believed to have been sculpted from a massive hillock of stone, and as you move from south to north, the structures gradually diminish in size. The southernmost temple is the grandest, while the others, following the natural slope of the rock, become progressively smaller. The original hill must have been expansive, sloping northward, and the temples were carved to align with this natural contour. The roofs of these early structures are often considered the first attempts at designing the vimanas—temple towers that are a defining feature of South Indian temples. To appreciate the artistry of these monuments, one must look beyond the rock's surface. What may seem like simple stone reveals intricate images and hidden marvels. Before you depart, take a final moment to admire the distant view of the rathas, the elephant, the lion, and Nandi, for a glimpse of the grandeur of these timeless masterpieces.

Panch Rathas are the next important monument in Mahabalipuram after the Shore Temple. There are 5 monolithic rock carvings and hence named after the Pandavas and Draupadi. All are elaborate and fantastic carvings. These are not temples as such but extremely good from archeology perspective. This place is around 1.5km from the Shore Temple. One can go walking or get an auto.

Unique place with semi-finished stone temples without deities; named after Pancha Pandavas (5-pandavas) and hence the name Five-Rathas. All Rathas, are carved out of naturally laid out rocks facing in different directions. This place is mysterious and appears to be made out of sheer creativity for fun.