Ganesha Ratha
கணேச ரதம்
A small shrine carved from a single boulder, with a three-tiered roof and horseshoe-arched windows intact. It is the most complete monolithic shrine apart from the Pancha Rathas.
Ganesha Ratha is a single-stone shrine carved from one block of granite in the mid-7th century, during the reign of Narasimhavarman I. It was originally dedicated to Shiva and later, in the 19th century, to Ganesha, which gave it its name. The shrine has a rectangular plan and a barrel-shaped roof topped with nine pot-shaped finials. Its design later influenced the gopuram gateways of South Indian temples. It sits on the hillside north of Krishna's Butterball, next to Varaha Cave Temple. Entry is free, and devotees still make offerings here.
Opening hours
06:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Varaha Cave Temple
- Krishna's Butterball
- Raya Gopuram
- Krishna Mandapa
- Sthalasayana Perumal Temple
- Mahishasuramardini Mandapa & Lighthouse
- Trimurti Cave Temple
- Stone Carving Workshops, Mamallapuram