Temples at Mamallapuram

Cave temple

Carving of Vishnu holding the goddess of the Earth

"Krishna's butterball"

Bas relief at Mamallapuram

Wild monkeys in Mamallapuram

The five ratha temples carved from solid rock

Cows roaming along the road from Mamallapuram

On the second day in India I left for a three day yoga experience at DakshinaChitra, a heritage village of south Indian life and an artist cooperative.  On the morning of the first day we visited Mamallapuram, where there are Hindu temples carved out of solid rock in the eighth century.  We had a great tour guide who explained in detail the meanings of the carvings.  However, during the tour we were besieged by people hawking all kinds of crafts and wares.