Enrich your soul with the mesmerizing union of the splendid beach, historic temples and the vibrant culture of the Mahabalipuram.
Mahabalipuram is the picture-perfect beach town you must have envisioned in your childhood. The Bay of Bengal brushes up against this coastal town and at times it feels that the waters and the sky have become one with only the temples to separate the two. Its World Heritage-listed temples, small neighbourhoods, beautiful beach, and picturesque surroundings make it the perfect place to visit if you want to experience a scintillating blend of nature and culture. All trails of your cares will be washed away and you will feel the vibe of the town lifting your sullen spirit.
Must VisitThe World Heritage Site monuments will compel you to admire the Pallava architecture. You can surf in the water or camp at the beach. Do relish the seafood and payasam. The Mahabalipuram Dance Festival will greet you with perfect postures, pleasant weather, and the stunning backdrop of Arjuna's Penance which create a mahol you cannot miss.
Best time to visitOctober to March is the best time to visit Mahabalipuram. During this time, Mahabalipuram is rapt in many festivities like the Mahabalipuram Dance Festival and the harvest festival of Pongal. The salubrious temperature enjoyed during this interval is another reason why this period is the best-suited for touring Mahabalipuram.
TriviaThe monuments of Mahabalipuram are the oldest in India, dating 1700 years back. Out of 500, only 50 seem to have survived the tsunami.
InterestThis UNESCO World Heritage Site houses ancient rock-cut temples, monuments, and iconic structures like the Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance, and the Five Rathas. Its intricate details reflect exceptional Dravidian architecture of the 7th-century Pallava dynasty.
Sandy shores, stunning coastal views & a glimpse into the past
A marvel of antiquity standing against the backdrop of the Bay of Bengal
Rock-cut temples showcasing exquisite Dravidian architecture
Intricately carved rock shelters offering glimpses into ancient artistry
Ancient sculptural depiction of mythology, legends & tales
An enigma of rock-cut caves with intricate carvings
A colossal boulder balancing perfectly on a sloped hill
A sanctuary for crocodiles and alligators, featuring conservation efforts
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Digha, Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 721428
Digha is a small coastal hamlet, covered by the sands of the shore almost completely. The New Digha beach is one of its attractions, found after a quick stroll through the town. Enjoy the large waves rushing past each other on the water on their way to meet the powdery sands.
Chandpur Sea Beach, Chandapur, West Bengal 721423
While the traditional beach invokes the image of blue waves on ochre sands, Chandpur Beach creates an illustration of the passage of time. It invites all those looking to spend quiet moments amidst the myriad shades of nature.
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104
The vast swathes of the beach settle its differences with the clear blue waters and the bulging boulders. Their union is dotted with numerous boats. Foamy waves crash upon the shore moisturizing the parched sea-beds. The opulence of the Shore Temple visible from this seaside enriches the already blissful experience. Whether it is surfing, swimming, or just sunbathing, this beach lets you enjoy it all.
Beach Road, Mahabalipuram Ho, Mahabalipuram 603104
Along the Coromandel Coast lies the stunning Shore Temple complex named so because of its location facing the Bay of Bengal. Built on the same platform, all three temples are made from blocks of granite from the 8th century AD. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the kutina-style five-storied main temple faces the east allowing the Shiva Linga to be illuminated by the sun's rays.
58, W Raja St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104
These rathas are fashioned after chariots and are named after the five brothers or the Pancha Pandavas and their common wife- Draupadi of the Mahabharatha. Typical of Dravidian architecture, the monument is composed of columns, pillars and layered domes. The niches in the wall are adorned with the carvings of gods and demi-gods.
Raja St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104
One of the many fascinating cave temples, Mandapam (cave sanctuary) is a fascinating example of temple architecture common during the Pallava dynasty. A series of six columns enclose a roofless quadrangle or ardha-mandapa. The pilasters comprising the façade are etched with figurines of horned-lions. A progression of steps sculpted on either side of the relief leads to the top of the rock.
Raja St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104
Popularly known as the Descent of The Ganges, this monument is known for its depiction of the same. According to the legend, the holy river Ganga satisfied with Bhagiratha's tapasya descended to the earth by cascading down Lord Shiva's dreadlocks. The most unique of those engravings are the life-size carvings of a herd of elephants. Another prominent scene on the panel depicts Arjuna’s Penance that satisfied Lord Shiva who blessed him with the weapon, Pasupata.
Mahabalipuram, Pattipulam, Tamil Nadu 603104
This cave temple looks more like a monument carved out of a boulder most delicately. The temple derives its name from eleven tiger-esque faces etched out on the façade that leads to a receptacle. The mighty tiger carvings exude ferocity and virility. The elephant heads on the left of the cave provide quite the contrast with their faceless tranquillity. An inscription on this temple led to the discovery of the Subramanya Temple in 2005.
Raja St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104
Krishna’s Butter Ball is a massive boulder that rests daintily on a slanting hillside. Defying gravity for the past 1200 years, this 20 ft granite boulder weighing 250 tons, has remained balanced on 1.2 sqm of area and nobody has been able to dislodge it. A part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage site, this site is colloquially known as Vaan Irai Kal, or the Sky God’s Stone.
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104
Home to a menagerie of turtles, lizards and crocodiles and located at a distance of 14km from Chennai, The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology is recognized under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The ample greenery inside the bank and the undisturbed air of the surroundings attract many species of birds on a regular basis. Nature-enthusiasts eager to explore native wildlife should stop by here.
Spring is a blend of the cool and the warm and therefore presents a pleasant weather to enjoy the beaches and all its shenanigans. There’s greenery all around to complement the blue waters and the flowers are in bloom.
Summers in Mahabalipuram are hardly merciful. Sometimes the temperatures reach up to 40°C and the humidity is somewhere close to 55%-65%. The idea of sightseeing, beach-hopping or enjoying the World Heritage Sites will seem too tedious in this weather.
After the sweltering summer heat comes the northeast monsoon rain. The temperature tends to dip a little but mostly stays close to 30°C. Humidity touches 90% making everything quite unbearable. The relatively high temperature, the rainfall and the high humidity make everything damp and sticky. Monsoon doesn't seem too appealing in Mahabalipuram unless you're a sucker for the rains.
Autumn feels the impact of the heavy monsoons and the oncoming chilly winds of winter positing the perfect weather to revel in the beachfront and relish the water sports while also going around discovering all the nearby attractions.
In winter the temperature finally falls to a bearable 28°C with the lowest reaching 20°C. The winter months are when this beach town comes to life. The pleasant sun allows you to promenade through the lanes and bylanes as you discover its unknown pleasures.
Mahabalipuram does not have any air facilities. The closest airport is the one in Chennai at about 58 km. The Chennai International Airport is connected to all the major cities of the world. You can take a taxi, car or bus from the airport to reach Mahabalipuram. The East Coast Road (ECR) is the route you will probably take if you're driving from Chennai. This road trip is scenic and admirable. The CMBT bus services or the buses provided by travel agencies are also a good fit.
There are no direct train services to Mahabalipuram. The nearest railway station is at Chengalpattu and Egmore. The Chennai Railhead is the closest major train station with connecting trains to almost all parts of India. All these stations belong to the Southern Railway Zone of the Indian Railways. From either of the stations, you can hire taxis or buses to reach Mahabalipuram. The Chengalpattu station is located right opposite the TNSTC and Mofussil bus terminals. You can even rent cars from travel agencies.
There are several options to reach Mahabalipuram by road. Public buses are offered by the MTC, TNSTC, Tamil Nadu Public Transport Services and from CMBT- Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal. If you're seeking a more relaxed ride, you can opt for the private buses that operate from Chennai Central. The East Coast Road or State Highway 49 is a very commonly used route. The clear, wide roads that cut across the endless blue sky, blanketed by rows of trees on either side and the occasional hillocks are ideal for road trips with friends and families.
There are reasons why a backpacker is drawn to Mahabalipuram. The small-town pleasures are best explored on foot. This effectively slashes transportation costs allowing for a smaller and more pocket-friendly budget. Whether it is one of the many monuments or the beaches, you are guaranteed to get the most out of this place if you wander around on foot. Motorcycles, bikes, and cars are available for different rates. Buses are also available that let you pry around the town. Moreover, tuk-tuk or auto-rickshaw gives a unique perspective into this historical town.
On an average, the journey takes about one and a half hours. However, it will take longer depending on the weather and traffic and your mode of transportation (bus, car etc).
You should visit Mahabalipuram for its rock-hewn monuments that date back to the Pallava Dynasty (6th and 7th century). These 40 odd structures are a World Heritage Site that will impress you instantaneously.
Here, the most widely spoken language is Tamil. You can also expect Hindi and English.
Mahabalipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu belongs to the Republic of India. Here, you will have to use the Indian Rupee.
Mahabalipuram is safe! It is agreeable to all sorts of tourists regardless of their sex. You need not be wary.
Considering you just want to visit some of the monuments, one to two days is quite ample. If you can spare another day or two, visit the seas, the crocodile park and the seashell museum.
Linen and cotton clothes for sure. Also, wear clothes that let you be flexible because you might want to have a look around the hilly region. Always wear sunscreen as the Mahabalipuram sun can be quite scorching.
Mahabalipuram is brimming with interesting and flattering restaurants and cafes and a variety of cuisines. Find here,...
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Divorcing the cares and worries of a regular life, you’ve come to an ancient town. The boulders, the overhanging gree...
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