Draupadi Ratha

Draupadi Ratha
Draupadi Ratha
Geography
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu,
District	Kancheepuram district
Location	Mahabalipuram
Culture
Primary deity	Shiva
History and governance
Date built	c. 650Common era

The Draupadi Ratha is a monument in the Pancha Rathas complex at Mahabalipuram, previously called Mamallapuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the Kancheepuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I (630–680 AD; also called Mamallan, or "great warrior") of the Pallava Kingdom. The entire complex is under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and is one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

Resembling a chariot (ratha), it is carved out of a single, long stone of granite. Though sometimes mistakenly referred to as a temple, the structure was not consecrated because it was not completed due to the death of Narasimhavarman I. The structure is named after the common consort Draupadi of the Pancha Pandavas, of epic Mahabharata fame, though the nomenclature is not supported by history. The unfinished structure is dedicated to the goddess Durga.

The site is located at Mahabalipuram (previously known as Mammallapuram) on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal of Indian Ocean in Kancheepuram district. It is approximately 35 miles (56 km) south of Chennai (previously known as Madras), the capital city, while Chengalpattu is about 20 miles (32 km) distant.

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