Pancha Pandava Mandapam

Pancha Pandava Mandapam stands close to Arjuna's Penance in the cave temple area of Mamallapuram. It was carved between the 7th and 8th centuries during Pallava rule, and it is a monolith: the entire structure, pillars and chambers included, has been cut out of a single rock.

The building is a plain rectangle held up by pillars carved with lions, and lion figures serve as supports at the entrance. Its walls, its verandah and its rock-cut chambers are covered in fine, detailed carving that reflects the skill of the stone workers employed by the Pallava kings.