Olakkannesvara Temple
| Olakkannesvara Temple | |
|---|---|
Olakkannesvara Temple | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Kancheepuram district |
| Deity | Shiva |
| Location | |
| Location | Mamallapuram |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
| Geographic coordinates | 12°37′00″N 80°11′30″E / 12.6167°N 80.1917°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian Architecture |
| Creator | Pallava Kingdom |
| Completed | Early 8th century |
| Temple(s) | 1 |
The Olakkannesvara Temple ("flame eye"; commonly Olakkanatha; also known as, "the Old Lighthouse") is in Mahabalipuram town, overlooking the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in Kancheepuram District in Tamil Nadu, India. Like the Shore Temple, the Olakkannesvara Temple is a structural temple. Built in the 8th century, it is situated directly above the Mahishasuramardini mandapa on a hillock which provides scenic views of the town. As the area is within a high security zone because of a nuclear power station a few kilometres to its south, photography is prohibited. The Olakkannesvara Temple is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a Mahishasura temple. It is dedicated to an incarnation of Shiva. It is one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram that were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.