Nature too, played a role in the erosion of this piece of history. The Great Shore Temple that we see is believed to be actually one of an original seven pagodas (spires, temples), the rest having been eroded or submerged.
Nature, once again, lent her helping hand, and I am told that after the tsunami of 2004, parts of the submerged remaining temples were visible, albeit briefly, when the waters of the ocean receded temporarily. We now have more “concrete” evidence of the role played by this small town in India's ancient trading culture.