Mahabalipuram Travel Guide
Located 58 km southwards of Chennai, Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, is one of the most popular destinations of Tamil Nadu. There are 2 legends behind the names of this place. The place is named Mahabalipuram after its ancient ruler King Mahabali who was killed by Lord Vishnu. The name Mamallapuram comes from Pallava ruler Narsimha Varman I. He was a great wrestler who was given the title of Mamallan. With an exotic sea line of 20 km, it attracts national as well as foreign tourists alike in huge numbers. Mahabalipuram was developed as a thriving seaport by the rulers of Pallava Dynasty, between 7th and 10 century. 650 – 750 AD was measured as the ‘Golden Age of Pallavas’. Mahabalipuram is also known for being home to Group of Monuments that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The place is celebrated for its temples in the form of Rathas (chariots), Mandapams (cave sanctuaries), massive open-air remnants like the famed 100 ft long Arjuna Penance/ Descent of the Ganges, as well as the Rivage temple that comprises of several splendid sculptures of Lord Shiva. Handicrafts, Sculpture Workshops, Sculpture and Art college, and exotic sea shore of Mahabalipuram are prime charmers for the tourists visiting the place all year round. These architectural gems were added by UNESCO in its world heritage list in the year 1984. Organized between the months of December and January, Mamallapuram Dance Festival draws champions of various classical dance forms such as Mohini Attam, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and Kuchipudi. This event is attended by tourists from all around the country and the globe. Temples and heritage monuments are the best places to visit in Mahabalipuram. Being the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city boasts a lot of these in number and each one of them being a gem in its own ways. If you are traveling to this wonderful city of Tamil Nadu, you need to make a list of places that you will have to cover. Although Mahabalipuram is an ideal escapade for all kinds of travelers but the temples still remain the prime attractions of this place. Built between 700 and 728 AD, Shore Temple is one of the best attractions of this place, the city offers much more for the devotees. While there are certainly a lot of temples that can be visited on your trip to Mahabalipuram; here is the list of temples in Mahabalipuram that can’t be missed. Embossed like a tag on the face of Tamil Nadu; innumerable boastful, ancient, and charismatic monuments are the top-notch attractions of the city. Heritage monuments and Mahabalipuram go hand in hand. These monuments are centuries old and display remarkable craftsmanship and architectural magnificence. People from across the globe come here to visit these monuments due to their inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Sights. If you are planning on taking a trip to Mahabalipuram then missing out on the ancient monuments will leave your trip incomplete. Some of the finest monuments of the city include: Apart from beautiful sculptures on the temple walls and monuments; Mahabalipuram boasts a list of museums housing some interesting artifacts of the past. Not just artifacts but paintings, coins and much more are places at these museums. Exploring the is one of the to-do things in Mahabalipuram.. Listed below are a few museums that you can visit on your trip. Mahabalipuram is located along the coast which is why it offers some of the finest beaches of India. Golden sand, beautiful sunset, and mouthwatering cuisines; all of these things make the beaches of this city a wonderful place to visit. If you love beach hopping or wish to spend some time with your travel partner at the beach, listed below are some places you can head to. Moreover, they offer a few water sports as well. Interestingly, Mahabalipuram is dotted with a few ancient caves some of which are now turned into ancient cave temples, and some are converted into cave tourist destinations. More or less, these ancient caves are alluring and engaging to visit. Do not miss out on the above-mentioned cave temples and below-listed caves during your Mahabalipuram tour. Being located along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, the city experiences high temperatures in summers and a high level of humidity in monsoons. Therefore the best time to visit Mahabalipuram is from October to February when the place experiences winters. The temperature takes a dip between these months and the moisture level also reduces considerably. You get a comfortable climate to explore the city of Mahabalipuram during winter. From October to February The nearest railways station to Mahabalipuram is Chennai Junction. But it is well connected with Coimbatore, Madurai, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram. You can get down at any of these railway stations and find a cab or taxi to your destination. Multiple buses ply from different cities of India to Mahabalipuram. Therefore if you prefer taking a bus you can visit here by one. You can take a road trip to the city as well. Being such an active tourist destination in Tamil Nadu, Mahabalipuram boasts a wide range of accommodation options. Right from hostels to luxury resorts; there is everything you want. So depending upon your budget, you can choose a package and pick up the hotel you wish to stay in. Here are some of the best hotels in Mahabalipuram:Places to visit in Mahabalipuram
Temples in Mahabalipuram
Monuments in Mahabalipuram
Museums in Mahabalipuram
Beaches in Mahabalipuram
Ancient Caves in Mahabalipuram
Best time to visit Mahabalipuram
Best months to visit Mahabalipuram:
How to reach Mahabalipuram: By Air, Rail & Road
By Air
By Rail
By Road
The nearest airport to Mahabalipuram is Chennai International Airport.
Distance from Mahabalipuram: 55 km
Distance from Mahabalipuram: 57 km
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Time: 1:30 hours (approximately
Time: 1:30 hours (approximately
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Best Hotels in Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram Tour Packages
Cities of Tamil Nadu
Things To Do in Mahabalipuram
- Mahabalipuram Tourism
- Best time to visit Mahabalipuram
- Eating Out in Mahabalipuram
- How to Reach Mahabalipuram
- Shopping in Mahabalipuram
- Aurbathimoovar Festival, Mylapore
- Cape Festival, Kanyakumari
- Chennai Dance & Music Festival Chennai
- Chithirai Festival Madurai
- Mamallapuram Dance Festival 2023
- Float Festival in Madurai
- Kanthuri Festival Tamil Nadu
- Mahamaham Festival Tamil Nadu
- Meenakshi Kalyanam Madurai
- Natyanjali Dance Festival Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
- Pongal Festival Tamil Nadu
- Summer Festivals Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu
- Tamil New Year
- Tea and Tourism Festival Ooty
- Thaipusam Festival Tamil Nadu
- Thyagaraja Carnatic Music Festival Thiruvariyar
- Tourism Fair Chennai
- Chettinad Tourism
- Coimbatore Tourism
- Coonoor Tourism
- Dharmapuri Tourism
- Kancheepuram Tourism
- Kanyakumari Tourism
- Kodaikanal Tourism
- Krishnagiri Tourism
- Kumbakonam Tourism
- Madurai Tourism
- Ooty Tourism
- Poompuhar Tourism
- Puddukottai Tourism
- Rameswaram Tourism
- Sivagangai Tourism
- Bharat Natyam Dance Tamil Nadu
- Cholamandalam in Tamil Nadu
- Cultural Centers in Tamil Nadu
- Dakshinachitra in Tamil Nadu
- Dances of Tamil Nadu
- Handicrafts in Tamil Nadu
- Kalakshetra Art Village
- Metal Craft in Tamil Nadu
- Musical Instruments Tamil Nadu
- Silk Weaving Kanjivaram
- Cities In Tamil Nadu
- Thanjavur Tourism
- Tirunelveli Tourism
- Thoothukudi Tourism
- Tiruvannamalai Tourism
- Tiruvarur Tourism
- Tourist Attractions in Chennai
- Famous Church in Chennai
- Christ The King Church Chennai
- Luz Church Chennai
- Santhome Cathedral Basilica Chennai
- St. Andrew’s Church Chennai
- St. Mary’s Church Chennai
- Historical Monuments in Chennai
- Bharathiyar Illam Chennai
- High Court Chennai
- Kamraj Memorial House Chennai
- Madras War Cemetery Chennai
- Ripon Building Chennai
- Senate House Chennai
- Vivekananda Illam Chennai
- Mosques in Chennai
- Big Mosque Chennai (Wallajah Mosque)
- Thousand Light Mosque Chennai
- Museums in Chennai
- Government Museum Chennai
- Vivekananda Museum Chennai
- Temples in Chennai
- Chayavaneashwara Temple Chennai
- Jain Temple in Chennai
- Kapaleeswarar Temple Chennai
- Viswaroopa Adhivyadhihara Sri Bhakta Anjaneyaswami Temple Chennai
- Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Chennai
- Varadaraja Temple Chennai
- Tourist Attraction in Chettinad
- Weekend Getaways from Chettinad
- Temples in Chidambaram
- Nataraja Temple Chidambaram
- Tourist Attractions in Coimbatore
- Kovai Kutralam Falls Coimbatore
- Monkey Falls Coimbatore
- Temples in Coimbatore
- Dhyanalinga Temple Coimbatore
- Eachanari Vinayagar Temple Coimbatore
- Karamdai Ranganathar Temple Coimbatore
- Marudhamalai Temple Coimbatore
- Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple Coimbatore
- Velliangiri Hill Temple Coimbatore
- Weekend Getaways from Coimbatore
- Places to Visit in Coonoor
- Catherine Falls in Coonoor
- Droog Fort in Coonoor
- Hidden Valley Coonoor
- Law’s falls in Coonoor
- St. George’s Church in Coonoor
- Tourist Attractions in Kanchipuram
- Temples in Kanchipuram
- Chitragupta Temple Kancheepuram
- Devarajaswami Temple in Kanchipuram
- Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram
- Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram
- Kamakshi Amman Temple
- Ulagalanda Perumal Temple in kanchipuram
- Tourist Attractions in Kanyakumari
- Historical Monuments in Kanyakumari
- Gandhi Memorial Kanyakumari
- Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kanyakumari
- Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari
- Vivekananda Memorial in Kanyakumari
- Temples in Kanyakumari
- Kumari Amman Temple
- Sri Bhadrakali Devaswom Temple
- Thirparappu Falls in Kanyakumari
- Weekend Getaways from Kanyakumari
- Tourist Attractions in Kodaikanal
- Berijam Lake in Kodaikanal
- Coakers Walk in Kodaikanal
- Dolmen Circle in Kodaikanal
- Kodaikanal Lake
- Kurinji Andavar Temple in Kodaikanal
- Pillar Rocks in Kodaikanal
- Sacred Heart Natural Science Museum
- Silver Cascade Falls in Kodaikanal
- Palani Temple in Kodaikanal
- Weekend Getaways from Kodaikanal
- Tourist Attractions in Kumbakonam
- Temples in Kumbakonam
- Airavatesvara Temple in Kumbakonam
- Kumbeswara Temple in Kumbakonam
- Tourist Attractions in Lothal
- Tourist Attractions in Madurai
- Historical Monuments in Madurai
- Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal Madurai
- Museums in Madurai
- Gandhi Memorial Museum Madurai
- Saint Mary’s Cathedral Madurai
- Temples in Madurai
- Alagarkoil Madurai
- Koodal Alagar Temple Madurai
- Mariammam Theppakulam Madurai
- Meenakshi Amman Temple Madurai
- Pudhu Mandapam Madurai
- Thiruparangundram Temple Madurai
- Theni Town
- Tourist Attractions in Mahabalipuram
- Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
- Museums in Mahabalipuram
- Sculpture Museum in Mahabalipuram
- Sea Shell Museum in Mahabalipuram
- Temples in Mahabalipuram
- Five Rathas Mahabalipuram
- Ganesha Ratha in Mahabalipuram
- Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram
- Mandapams in Mahabalipuram
- Vedagiriswarar Temple in Mahabalipuram
- Tourist Attractions in Nagappattinam
- Churches in Nagappattinam
- Velankanni Church
- Temples in Nagappattinam
- Sirkazhi Sattanathar Temple
- Tourist Attractions in Ooty
- Activities in Ooty
- Elk Hill Murugan Temple, Ooty
- Golf Course in Ooty
- Kamraj Sagar Dam in Ooty
- Nilgiri Mountain Railways in Ooty
- Churches in Ooty
- St. Stephen’s Church Ooty
- Museums in Ooty
- Government Museum in Ooty
- Tea Museum Ooty
- Natural Sights in Ooty
- Avalanche Lake in Ooty
- Dolphin’s Nose in Ooty
- Emerald Lake in Ooty
- Kalhatti Falls in Ooty
- Pykara Lake and Waterfall in Ooty
- Ooty Hill Station
- Parks and Gardens in Ooty
- Botanical Garden Ooty
- Rose Garden Ooty
- Tourist Attractions in Rameswaram
- Adam’s Bridge Rameshwaram
- Agnitheertham Rameshwaram
- Rameshwaram Beach Tamil Nadu
- Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram
- Temples in Rameshwaram
- Gandamadana Parvatam Rameshwaram
- Ramanathaswamy Temple Rameshwaram
- Places to Visit in Tamil Nadu
- Beaches in Tamil Nadu
- Covelong Beach Tamil Nadu
- Edward Elliot’s Beach Chennai
- Kanyakumari Beach
- Mahabalipuram Beach
- Marina Beach Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Nagapattinam Beach Tamil Nadu
- Poompuhar Beach Tamil Nadu
- Sadras Beach Chennai
- Thiruchendur Beach Tamil Nadu
- V.G.P. Golden Beach Tamil Nadu
- Caves in Tamil Nadu
- Churches in Tamil Nadu
- Hill Stations in Tamil Nadu
- Coonoor Hill Station
- Kotagiri Hill Station Tamil Nadu
- Yelagiri Hills Station Tamil Nadu
- Yercaud Hill Station
- Historical Monuments in Tamil Nadu
- Ramaswamy Temple Kumbakonam Tanjore
- Holy Cities in Tamil Nadu
- Mosques in Tamil Nadu
- Museums in Tamil Nadu
- Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha Chennai
- Religious Places in Tamil Nadu
- Temples in Tamil Nadu
- Brihadeeswarar Temple Tanjore
- Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram
- Kapaleeswarar Temple Chennai
- Kumari Amman Temple
- Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram
- Meenakshi Amman Temple Madurai
- Murugan Temples in Tamil Nadu
- Naganathaswamy Temple Tanjore
- Nataraja Temple Chidambaram
- Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu
- Ramanathaswamy Temple Rameshwaram
- Wildlife in Tamil Nadu
- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
- Tourist Attractions in Tanjore
- Historical Monuments in Tanjore
- Manora Fort Tanjore
- Sangeetha Mahal Tanjore
- Saraswati Mahal Library Tanjore
- Museums in Thanjavur
- Tanjore Art Gallery
- Thanjavur Royal Palace Museum
- Siva Ganga Garden Tanjore
- Temples in Tanjore
- Adi Kumbeswarar Temple Kumbakonam Thanjavur
- Airavatesvara Temple Thanjavur
- Aiyarappan Temple Tanjore
- Brihadeeswarar Temple Tanjore
- Mahalingeswarar Temple Tanjore
- Naganathaswamy Temple Tanjore
- Ramaswamy Temple Kumbakonam Tanjore
- The Great Living Chola Temples
- Thirunallar Temple Tanjore
- Tourist Attractions in Tiruvannamalai
- Temples in Tiruvannamalai
- Arunachaleswarar Temple
- Kubera Perumal Temple
- Tourist Attractions in Tiruvarur
- Tourist Attractions in Trichy
- Churches in Trichy
- Kandal Cross Shrine Trichy
- Lourde’s Church Trichy
- St John’s Church Trichy
- Temples in Trichy
- Chayavaneashwara Temple Trichy
- Jambukeshwara Temple Trichy
- Samayapuram Mariamman Temple Trichy
- Sri Ranganathaswami Temple Trichy
- Tourist Attractions in Vellore
- Weekend Getaways from Vellore
- Trade Shows in Tamil Nadu
- Trichy Tourism
- Velankanni Tourism
- Vellore Tourism
- Virudhunagar Tourism