A day at Mahabalipuram

Kristina and I left the kids in John's capable hands and spent a day admiring the temples and carvings at another of my favorite Chennai-area spots, Mahabalipuram.

A row of Nandis at the Shore Temple.

Weathered deity at the Shore Temple.

Women worship at the Shore Temple's Shiva lingam.

Shore Temple tower.

One of the Shore Temple's gargoyle-style lions.

Detail at the Shore Temple.

Another lion gargoyle.

The Shore Temple's empty tank.

The Shore Temple's lower tower, which is over the Vishnu shrine. The Vishnu shrine was open this time, and I got to see the huge reclining figure inside.

Women leaving the Shore Temple.

Kristina does some bargaining for Gujurati wall hangings.

A female deity surveys her world from her place at the Five Rathas.

Lanterns for sale outside the Five Rathas.

Vendor stalls outside the Five Rathas.

An artisan works in granite.

An artisan uses his feet to steady a granite piece as he carves an elephant.

A lion pillar at the Lighthouse cave temple.

Detail from the carvings at Durga cave temple under the Lighthouse. 

Goddess Durga battles the demon Mahishasura. 

The Shore Temple as seen from the Lighthouse temple.

A lion and other carvings on the corner of the Lighthouse temple.

Detail of a pillar at the cave temple near Descent of the Ganges.

Incredible yoga performance by a deity in the Varaha cave temple behind Descent of the Ganges.

Radisson Blu's fantastic seafood restaurant on the beach.