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Mahabalipuram - Sea Shores Of Scenic Perfection

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Mahabalipuram, now officially called Mamallapuram, is a town in the Kanchipuram district of the Tamil Nadu state. It is a 7th century port city of the famous Pallava dynasty, a home to various significant monuments that were constructed between the seventh and the ninth centuries.

It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the presence of these aforementioned historical monuments. Mahabalipuram faces the Bay of Bengal and is situated on the Coromandel Coast.

During the Golden Age of the Pallavas, the years between 650-750 AD, Mahabalipuram saw marked improvements in art, architecture, poetry, drama and nearly all other facets of cultural identity.

Tourist Places In And Around Mahabalipuram

As was touched on earlier, it was during the rule of the Pallavas that Mahabalipuram flourished as a whole. The rock cut caves, silver sandy beach, casuarina trees and temples cut from a single rock are some of the alluring attractions this historic town has to offer to tourists and pilgrims.

Mahabalipuram has a number of attractions to feast one’s eyes upon and they include the Krishna Mandapam, the Five Rathas, the Varaha Mandapam and the Shore Temple. The Cholamadal Artist’s Village lies about 30 km from the town and is home to various paintings, crafty articles and sculptures.

The Mahabalipuram Beach contributes extra splendour to the construction of the Pallava Empire and many a tourists can be found relaxing here from dawn to dusk. About 5 km away from the town, there exists a shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga which has a number of beautiful figurines. The nearby Tiger Cave and Crocodile Bank serve as popular picnic spots for people of all ages throughout the year.

How To Reach Mahabalipuram

The town is well connected to the surrounding towns and cities via buses. Other means of transport are also available in reasonable proximity. Conversing with the locals shouldn’t be a problem for tourists as both Tamil and English are spoken widely in Mahabalipuram.

Mahabalipuram Weather

Due to the presence of the sea nearby, the climate is temperate and windy.

Mahabalipuram is Famous for

Mahabalipuram Weather

Best Season / Best Time to Visit Mahabalipuram

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How to Reach Mahabalipuram

  • By Road
    Mahabalipuram Town is well connected to the cities in and around the region including Chennai via both private tourist buses (that operate from Chennai Central) as well as Tamil Nadu Public Transport bus services. Along the way, one can see the devastation caused by the 2004 tsunami, but the ride otherwise is pleasant.
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  • By Train
    The nearest railway station is at Chengalpattu, and it is located 29 kms away from Mahabalipuram town. The major railway station closest to the town is Chennai railhead, and it is connected to the major cities of India. Hiring a taxi would charge Rs. 600 from Chengalpattu to Mahabalipuram and from Chennai, it is about Rs. 1,400.
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  • By Air
    The closest airport to Mahabalipuram is the Chennai International Airport , and is situated at a distance of 54km from the town. It is connected to major cities in India as well as countries such as Sri Lanka, Dubai, Singapore, etc. A taxi from the airport to Mahabalipuram would cost an average of Rs. 1,200.
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