Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor

Completed in the latter half of the 8th century A.D, Mahabalipuram Shore Temple is one of the finest examples of structural temple architecture, meaning that it was built from granite block as opposed to being carved from solid stone. It belongs to a period when this temple construction style was at its peek.

The shore temple is constructed in the usual Pallava style of architecture, with its decorative and intrinsic quality. Nandis guard the inner temple boundary walls.