Information Board At Descent Of The Ganges And Arjuna`s Penance At Mahabalipuram In Tamil Nadu, India Editorial Photo

Descent of the Ganges and and Arjuna`s Penance is a monument at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a giant open-air rock relief carved on two monolithic rock boulders. The legend depicted in the 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. The 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 is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984