Introduction
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) located close to Chennai is on the shores of Bay of Bengal, along the eastern coast. The city is named after the Pallava king Narasimha Varman. Magnificent rock carvings, monolithic sculptures, the Shore Temple all sum up to make Mahabalipuram a marvellous city. The city prides itself on being a part of the golden triangle of the southern India. This place boasts of various historical monuments built during the reign of the Pallava kings who gave origin to Dravidian architecture. This great place possesses forty monuments of different types including an 'open air bas relief' which is said to be the largest in the world. The architectural splendours of Mahabalipuram depict the art and culture prevailing here.


Quick Facts
Location : 58 kms from Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
Area : 8 sq km
Trip Highlights : Shore Temple & Arjuna's Penance
Ideal time to visit : November - March
Languages : Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English & Hindi
STD Code : 04113
Festival : Dance Festival (Held in December)
Climate : Summer (Max - 35ºC) & Winter (Max - 25 ºC)

Mahabalipuram Air/Rail/Road Links

Airport :	The nearest airport from Mahabalipuram is Chennai(madras) which is located around 60 kms away. The airport has regular connecting flights to all the key destinations of the country and the world.
Railway Station :	The nearest railway station is Chengalapttu, which is located 29 km from Mahabalipuram. Trains for Chennai and many other cities in South India are available from here.
Bus Station :	Mahabalipuram is connected by road to Chennai, Kanchipuram and Pondicherry.

Tourist Attractions in Mahabalipuram
Arjuna’s Penance
This impressive and eye catching bas relief is believed to be the largest in the world. The surface of this bas relief is 29m by 13m and it houses approximately one hundred figures of Gods, sages, semi divine beings, huge elephants and other animals.

The Shore Temple
This temple is situated at the very margin of Bay of Bengal. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The enclosing wall of temple has a series of Nandi Bulls on it.

The Five Rathas
The Five Rathas include the Dharamaraja, The Bhima, The Arjuna, The Draupadi and The Sahadeva. These are five monolithic temples each created in a unique style. Also known as Panch Pandava Rathas, these are actually the precursors of south Indian temples.

Tiger's Cave
Located 4 km north of the main monument complex, it is an open theatre, where cultural programmes are held. It is a very peaceful place.

Shopping Centres in Mahabalipuram
Shopping in Mahabalipuram gives a tremendous opportunity to collect memorabilia, gifts and souvenirs to take back home for friends and family. Shopping comprises of stone sculptures, jewellery and decorative items made up of sea shells, cane objects, wood carvings and idols of gods and goddesses on soap stone. You can buy all these from –

Famous Hotels in Mahabalipuram
Conforming to the very high standards, we offer you a wide choice of accommodation. Being the most important tourist destination in India, there are hundreds of hotels located in all parts of the city. There are a number of luxurious hotels that will suit your budget:

Getaways
While you are holidaying in Mahabalipuram, make sure that you visit some of the magnificent places around it. These are as follows –

Chennai - 55 km
Tirupati - 207 km
Bangalore - 330 km
Kanchipuram - 65 km