This group of sanc­tu­ar­ies, found­ed by the Palla­va kings, was carved out of rock along the Coro­man­del coast in the 7th and 8th cen­turies. It is known espe­cial­ly for its rathas (tem­ples in the form of char­i­ots), man­da­pas (cave sanc­tu­ar­ies), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous ‘Descent of the Ganges‘, and the tem­ple of Rivage, with thou­sands of sculp­tures to the glo­ry of Shi­va.