The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.

Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram (Tamil: 鉈桌挽鉈桌挈鉒??挈鉈芹?鉈啤悅鉒? is an ancient historic town and was a bustling seaport from as early as the 1st century CE.

By the 7th Century it was the main port city of the South Indian Pallava dynasty. The historic monuments seen today were built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries CE.