Narasimhavarman I (630?-668?), also known as Mamalla, was king of the Pallava dynasty of southern India. He is chiefly remembered for developing the town of Mahabalipuram, formerly called Mamallapuram in his honor. The town lies on the Bay of Bengal in what is now the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was already a thriving commercial port when Narasimhavarman took it over, but he enlarged it and turned it into a naval base and Hindu religious center. Its surviving temples and monuments fascinate tourists and scholars. Narasimhavarman is portrayed on one of the rock carvings.
Narasimhavarman was a notable warrior. He killed King Pulakeshin II, ruler of the neighboring Chalukyas dynasty, and destroyed his capital, Vatapi. He also sent two naval expeditions to Sri Lanka to support Manavamma, a Sinhalese prince who coveted the throne.
