Location : Located in the state of Tamil Nadu on southern coast of Bay of Bengal
Tourist Attractions : Arjuna's Penance, The Varaha Cave,
Rathas, Krishna Mandapam, Shore Temple, Kanchipuram, Vedanthangal, Covelong,
Crocodile Bank, Muttukadu.
Best Buys : Local handicrafts
Best Hangouts : The seashore at Mahabalipuram
Best Activity : Stroll along the beach side.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Kanchipuram, Pondicherry,
Chennai, Thanjavur (Tanjore).
When to Visit : September to May
About Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram with its picturesque location on
a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon is absolutely a great place
to visit. The sea side town is a harmonious combination of history, good
beaches, hassle-free tourism and fabulous sea food! Despite being crowded
through out the year, the place is friendly, relaxed, and the villagers are
remarkably undisturbed by their crowds of visitors. Mahabalipuram is well
known for its series of impressive rathas and the spectacularly carved
relief depicting Arjuna's Penance. The magnificent Shore Temple, built by
king Rajasimha in the 17th century, is a unique temple that shelters the
shrines of both Shiva and Vishnu while the Varaha Cave is
one
of the many rock-cut caves in Mahabalipuram. The city of Mamallapuram or
Mahabalipuram, is full of sculpture workshops all around and many artisans
thrive on this art here.
Major Tourist Attractions in Mahabalipuram
Arjuna's Penance
Arjuna's Penance, a massive relief made on two huge boulders, is a complete
universe itself in stone. This colossus of art, 27 m long and 9 m high, is
perhaps the world's largest bas-relief. There are some exquisite examples of
artistry carved out off stone here, the sight of which should not missed.
Caves
The Varaha Cave, a small rock-cut mandapam (hall), is a faceted and
finished gem with two incarnations of Vishnu-Varaha (boar) and Vamana
(dwarf). Particularly remarkable are four panels of the famous Pallava
doorkeepers. The Dharmaraja Cave, built in the early 17th century, contains
three empty shrines. The Mahisasurmardini Cave (mid-17th century) has
exemplary bas-reliefs on its panels of everlasting beauty. The Somaskanda
sculpture emits peace, power, and wisdom while Lord Vishnu is shown in
omniscient repose in a masterpiece of dhwani (the art of suggestion). On the
opposite side is a huge theatrical panel showing, Goddess Durga's fight with
the demon Mahishasura, an episode culled from the celebrated Sanskrit poem
Devi Mahatmya.
Rathas (Chariots)
A group of beautiful structures scattered at the southern extreme of
Mahabalipuram, amidst casuarina trees, are the well known Rathas (chariots).
Known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas, they are five in number. Out of these,
four are carved out of a single rock, while the fifth one on the west is
chiseled out from a small rock. The square Draupadi and Arjuna Rathas, the
linear Bhima Ratha, the taller Dharamraja Ratha and the apsidal
Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha, completes the complex.
Krishna Mandapam
The amazingly carved stone temple is one of the earliest rock-cut temples
of Mahabalipuram. The walls of the temples displays picture of pastoral
life, one with the image of Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill in his
fingertips to protect his people from Indra.
Shore Temple
The
windswept and surf-beaten Shore Temple evokes the aura of Mahabalipuram. A
three-in-one abode of god - a Vishnu temple confined between two Shiva
temples, the Shore Temple is a visual delight. The surroundings of the
temple abound in architectural masterpieces.
Covelong
About 19 km from Mahabalipuram is situated the picturesque beach resort of
Covelong, a peaceful fishing village with the remnants of a fort. Facilities
for windsurfing, swimming and water sports are available here. If you are in
Mahabalipuram, don't forget to visit this place.
Crocodile Bank
The Crocodile bank is located nearly 14 km away from Mahabalipuram on the
Chennai-Mahabalipuram road. The bank is a perfect place to view large
variety of crocodiles. Located nearby is a snake farm where anti-venom is
produced for treating snakebites.
Getting There
Air : The nearest airport from Mahabalipuram is Chennai (Madras),
located around 60 km away. One can get flights for almost all major
destinations in India.
Rail : The nearest railway station, Chengalpattu, is around 29 km
away from Mahabalipuram.
Road : Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is connected by road to all the
major cities and towns of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
Accommodation
Several types of accommodation options, from economy to high-class, are
available in Mahabalipuram. The best option is to check into one of the
several beach resorts spread across the town. Almost all the accommodations
offer quality facilities and services as per the requirement of the
visitors.
