Arjuna's Penance (Descent of the Ganges)
அர்ச்சுனன் தபசு
One of the world's largest open-air rock reliefs, about 30 m long, carved with more than a hundred gods, humans and animals.
This 7th-century giant relief is carved into two boulders. It is about 30 m long and 15 m high and depicts the mythological scene of the “Descent of the Ganges” or “Arjuna's Penance.” The central crack represents the Ganges. On either side are carved gods, ascetics, herds of elephants and a cat pretending to be an ascetic, along with more than a hundred other figures, all full of lively detail. Nearby are cave temples, including Krishna's Butterball and the Varaha Cave Temple. Admission is free, and the relief is in the center of town.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Shore Temple
- Stone Carving Workshops, Mamallapuram
- Sthalasayana Perumal Temple
- Krishna Mandapa
- Ganesha Ratha
- Raya Gopuram
- Varaha Cave Temple
- Krishna's Butterball