Title
Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)
Description
Descent of the Ganges is a monument at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the Kancheepuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Measuring 96 by 43 feet (29 m x 13 m), it is a giant open-air relief carved of two monolithic rock boulders. The legend depicted in the bas-relief is the story of the descent of the sacred river Ganges to earth from the heavens led by Bhagiratha. The waters of the Ganges are believed to possess supernatural powers. The descent of the Ganges and Arjuna's Penance are portrayed in stone at the Pallava heritage site. The bas-relief is more of a canvas of Indian rock cut sculpture at its best not seen anywhere in India. It is one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram that were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. (from Wikipedia)
Creator
Welch, Claude Emerson
Publisher
State University of New York at Buffalo
Date
2004-12
Rights
Format
image/jpeg
Type
Image
Identifier
South India CD
psc001_psc1669
Coverage
Tamil Nadu (India)
Date Created
2011-04-26
Is Part Of
Welch-Ludwig Collection
PSC001
Collection
Citation
Welch, Claude Emerson, “Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram),” Digital Collections - University at Buffalo Libraries, accessed May 14, 2025, https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/26670.