Pancha Rathas also called in other ways as Five rathas or Pandava rathas or Anithinai Kovil is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram on the coast of Bay of Bengal in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. It is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture which is a single stone sculpted in rock cut style.
This monument complex was initially thought to have carved during the ruling period od king Narasimhavarman II. It is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed by UNESCO as "Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram".
Each of the five monuments in the Pancha Rathas complex represents a chariot(Ratham). These rathas are carved in a single long stone of granite. The structures are named after the Pancha Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishthira known as DHarmaraja, Nakula & Sahadeva)and their common wife Draupadi from Mahabharata.
The Pallava dynasty had planned the structures as models of chariots(ratham) in rock based on ancient rathas built in wood. These five rathas construction was discontinued at the death time of Narasimha Varman.
Mahabalipuram bus stand is located at a distance of around 1.1 KM from the monument. You can reach the monument by taking a local taxi or auto from the bus stand.
