- Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram or the Seven Pagodas, is a town situated along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
- This historically significant town was once part of the Pallava dynasty, which ruled over regions of South India from 275 CE to 897 CE.
- It was founded by Pallava king Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century AD, the name Mamallapuram is derived from "Mamallan," meaning "great warrior," a title attributed to Narasimhavarman I.
- During the British era, the name Mamallapuram evolved into Mahabalipuram, and it is still referred to by this name today.
