Discover the captivating charm of Mahabalipuram, a coastal town steeped in history and architectural marvels. Immerse yourself in the UNESCO World Heritage Site adorned with ancient rock-cut temples and intricately carved sculptures. Enhance your exploration by booking a cab from Chennai to Mahabalipuram allowing you to effortlessly navigate the town and uncover its hidden gems. From the iconic Shore Temple to the awe-inspiring Pancha Rathas, embark on a captivating journey through time, immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage of this mesmerizing destination. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Mahabalipuram while enjoying the convenience of seamless transportation.
Table of Contents
- Things to do in Mahabalipuram
- About Mahabalipuram
- How to Plan a trip to Mahabalipuram
- Places to stay in Mahabalipuram
Things to do in Mahabalipuram
- Camp at the beach, light a campfire and enjoy the amazing views
- Visit the Kadumbadi village and experience the quaint life of rural Tamil Nadu
- Take a Fishing Safari offered by many local service providers
Temples and Monuments in Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram has around 40 monuments and old Hindu temples. It also houses one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world called Arjuna’s Penance or the Descent of the Ganges. They were built during the Pallava Dynasty. Here is a quick look at the temples and monuments.
Temples
- Shore Temple Mahabalipuram – A UNESCO World Heritage site built in the seventh century, the Shore Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Shore Temple timings: 6 am to 6 pm on all days.
- Thirukadalmallai – Also known as the Sthalasayana Perumal Temple, the Thirukadalmallai Temple features in the top ten Mahabalipuram places to visit list. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, it is a perfect example of the Dravidian style of architecture. It is open for visitors from 6 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 8.30 pm.
- Varaha Mandapa – This is also known as the Varaha Cave Temple or the Adivaraha Cave and is one of the most ornamented and complete caves in Mahabalipuram. It is excavated in the mandapa style with a single hall and a shrine at the rear. There are many mythical figures carved on the walls of the cave. It is open for visitors from 6-8 am to 6 pm on all days.
- Trimurti Cave Temple – This is a triple-celled cave temple dedicated to the three superpowers of Hinduism – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. Additionally, there is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga slaying the demon Mahishasur. It is open for visitors from 6-8 am to 6 pm on all days.
- Ganesha Ratha Temple – The Ganesha Ratha Temple is one of the most famous rathas. It is a monolithic structure designed in the shape of a chariot and symbolizes the trade and commerce of the Gupta Empire. It is open for visi tors from 6-8 am to 6 pm on all days.
- Atiranachanda Cave Temple – This cave temple is located a little far from the city in a hamlet called Saluvankuppam. It is excavated in the mandapa style. Also, there are many inscriptions on the walls of the cave temple. It is open for visitors from 6 am to 6 pm on all days.
- Karukathamman Temple – Dedicated to Goddess Karu Katha Amman, this is a small but famous temple. It is open for visitors from 7 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm on all days.
- Krishna Mandapam – Among all the cave temples, the Krishna Mandapam is the oldest and the largest one. It has a lot of carvings with the most significant being the incident where Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain to protect people from heavy rainfall.
Hire a car rental in Mahabalipuram to visit all these temples with comfort and ease.
[Also read: Golu Celebrations in Tamil Nadu]
Dress Code in Mahabalipuram Temple
Since 2016, people traveling to temples in South India are expected to follow a prescribed dress code. Men are expected to wear a dhoti, a traditional long lower garment, or pyjama (two-piece garment) with an upper cloth or formal shirts and trousers. Women are expected to wear sarees or half sarees with a blouse, churidars (light loose trousers) with an upper cloth. Children should wear fully-covered dresses too.
Monuments
- Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram – The Pallava Kings founded a group of sanctuaries along the Coromandel Coast during the seventh and eighth centuries. This is known as the Group of Monuments. The monuments include temples made in the form of a chariot (5 rathas), cave sanctuaries (mandapas), giant open-air reliefs like the famous ‘Descent of the Ganges’, and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.
- Pancha Rathas – The five unique monolithic free-standing temples that were named after the Pandavas and Draupadi from the Mahabharata but have no connections with the epic. These five rathas are Draupadi Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Dharmraja Ratha, and Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha. It is open for visitors from 6 am to 6 pm on all days.
- Krishna’s Butterball – This is one of the most intriguing tourist attractions. The butter ball is a giant rock (diameter of around five meters) perched on a smooth slope, balancing itself without any support. It defies all laws of physics. Krishna butter ball is open for visitors from 6 am to 6 pm on all days.
- Descent of the Ganges – This is a giant open-air rock relief that is carved out of two monolithic rock boulders. It measures 96 by 43 feet. The relief depicts the legend of the descent of the sacred river Ganga to Earth from the Heavens. It is open for visitors from 6 am to 6 pm on all days.
[Also Read: Chennai: The Gateway to South India]
Places to visit in Mahabalipuram
Apart from the temples and monuments detailed above, here are some places to see
1. Mahabalipuram Beach
Located on the East Coast near E Raja Street, Mahabalipuram Beach is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy nature and art together.
You can also visit the snake venom extraction center, school of art and culture, and a crocodile bank that has more than 5000 crocodiles of six different species.
2. India Seashell Museum
Located on Kalpakkam Road, the India Seashell Museum is the largest museum of seashells and a unique place to visit.
The museum has been designed to create an illusion of the sea and marine life. There are more than 40,000 varieties of exhibits in the museum. It is open for visitors from 8 am – 8 pm every day and is one of the must-see places.
3. Mahabalipuram Light House
Located on Mada Koil Street, the Light House stands next to India’s oldest lighthouse constructed in 640AD.
You can get an amazing view of the surroundings from the lighthouse. It is open for visitors from 9 am – 5:30 pm every day. Each visitor can be in the lighthouse only for ten minutes. Also, the best time to visit the lighthouse is during the winter months of September to March – preferably during the evening hours.
Book a cab in Mahabalipuram from savaari to visit these famous places and enjoy a great trip with your family and friends.
Things to shop in Mahabalipuram
- Stone sculptures – miniature monolithic rock-cut carvings from Mount Road and Arjuna Penance
- Seashell items from artisans at the Shore Temple Road
Best Place to Eat in Mahabalipuram
- Nautilus, Othavadai Cross Street – continental food
- Blue Elephant, Othavadai Street – seafood
- Le Yogi, Othavadi Street – North Indian, Seafood, South Indian, and Nepalese food
- Rose Garden, Beach Road – Indian food
- Water’s Edge Café, Radisson Blu Resort – multi-cuisine food
About Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the seventh and eighth century Hindu Group of monuments. It was one of the two major port cities in the Pallava kingdom. The town was named after the Pallava King Mahabali Narasimhavarman I. It is located in the south-eastern part of Tamil Nadu.
Architectural Splendor of Mahabalipuram
The artisans carved out the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram from rock along the Coromandel Coast. These monuments are renowned for their temples, known as five rathas, resembling chariots, cave sanctuaries called mandapas, magnificent open-air reliefs, and the temple of Rivage. It occupies a special place in classical Indian architecture and marks the high quality of craftsmanship during the period.
What is famous in Mahabalipuram?
The temple town of Tamil Nadu is famous for:
- Its historical importance. You can witness the change in the city via the structures & ruins.
- Golden sandy beaches. In fact, Mahabalipuram’s beach is one of the longest beaches in India.
- A great city to marvel at the architecture of the famous Pallava Dynasty.
- Most monuments are monolithic – carved out of a single rock.
How to Plan a trip to Mahabalipuram
Best Time to visit Mahabalipuram
Winters are the best times for sightseeing. The winter months of September to March offer a relatively pleasant climate with warm days and cool nights. In fact, the peak season to visit Mahabalipuram is between November and February. Summers can get really hot here making sightseeing difficult.
How to Reach Mahabalipuram from Chennai
Here are some ways to travel from Chennai
By Train
Chengalpattu is the closest railway station to Mahabalipuram. There are around 155 trains that ply between Chennai and Chengalpattu regularly. Of these, around 50 trains run every day. The fastest train is the Manduadih – Rameswaram Weekly Express that takes an hour to reach. Chengalpattu is at a distance of around 27 km from the city. From there, you can book a cab in Chengalpattu to reach your destination.
By Road
Chennai is around 57 km by road from Mahabalipuram. You can take the East Coast Road for a scenic drive. You can book a Chennai to Mahabalipuram taxi and reach within around one hour.
By Flight
Chennai International Airport is the closest airport to Mahabalipuram. You can skip long queues by booking a Chennai airport taxi and reach Mahabalipuram directly in less than an hour. You
How to Reach Mahabalipuram from Kanchipuram
Here are some ways to travel from Kanchipuram:
By Train
Chengalpattu is the closest railway station to Mahabalipuram. There are around 23 trains that ply between Kanchipuram and Chengalpattu regularly. Of these, around 3 trains run every day. The fastest train is the Mumbai LTT – Madurai Weekly Express (PT) that takes around 40 minutes to reach. Chengalpattu is at a distance of around 27 km from Mahabalipuram. From there, you can also hire a car rental in chengalpattu to reach your destination.
By Road
Kanchipuram is around 67 km by road via the Kancheepuram – Chengalpattu Road. You can book a Kanchipuram to Mahabalipuram taxi and reach within 1.5-2 hours.
Best Places to Stay in Mahabalipuram
- Four Points by Sheraton Resort, ECR – OMR Junction
- Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay Mamallapuram, 57 Covelong Road
- Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort Spa, East Coast Road
- Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Kences Palm Beach, East Coast Road
- Esthell Village Resort, Sadras Road
Download our Savaari car Booking app for a smooth and pleasant journey.
Best Road-trips to Mahabalipuram
| Route Name | Distance | Time |
| Chennai to Mahabalipuram | 58 km | 1 hours and 30 minutes |
| Pondicherry to Mahabalipuram | 95 km | 1 hours and 45 minutes |
| Tirupati to Mahabalipuram | 190 km | 4 hours |
| Bangalore to Mahabalipuram | 361 km | 6 hours and 32 minutes |
| Yercaud to Mahabalipuram | 319 km | 5 hours and 34 minutes |
You can also access detailed curated list of places to visit near Chennai which is just 80 Km from Mahabalipuram.
Last Updated on February 2, 2024 by Swati Deol
