Mahabalipuram: History in Stone The ancient tradition of stone carving is still alive in the region, and rhythmic sounds of hammer and chisel on stone afford a glimpse of how these monuments, rock-cut caves and sculptures came into being, almost fifteen hundred years ago. Here, one can see Master Sculptor Thirunavukarasu create an exquisite statue of Buddha out of the black granite stone. VC: Supriya Sahu IAS | TheBetterIndia