The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram consists of temples and reliefs from the 7th century Pallava-dynasty, known for their sculptures carved out of rock. Mahabalipuram was a seaport of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas, before they lost power to the Cholas.The sculptures were hewn out of local granite. They fall into 4 different categories by mode of execution:1. rock-cut caves2. monolithic temples or rathas, hewn out of a large boulder3. bas-reliefs in the open air4. structural temp