Mamallapuram Shore Temple

The monuments at Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)  are mostly rock-cut and were made at a time when Dravidian architecture was coming under the influence of Buddhism. Marie Luise Gothein, in book on Indian Gardens  (ISBN 978-0-9542306-4-7 ) drew attention to them as an indicator of what form Indian residential buildings may have had at this time. The structures include:
Thirukadalmallai, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

• Descent of the Ganges - a open-air bas relief
• Arjuna's Penance - a relief sculpture  showing an episode from the Hindu epic, The Mahabharata.
• Varaha Cave Temple - a small rock-cut temple  
• The Shore Temple (or Lake Temple) - a temple on the shore of the Bay of Bengal
• Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots)