- Distance
- About 58 km by road
- Drive time
- 1.5 hours one way
- Pickup
- Chennai
- Destination
- Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Trip type
- Same-day return possible
- Vehicles
- Sedan, SUV, tempo traveller, coach
About the trip
Mahabalipuram, or Mamallapuram, was a Pallava port town and is now a UNESCO site full of seventh-century rock-cut temples and reliefs. Visitors come for the Shore Temple, the Five Rathas, Arjuna's Penance and Krishna's Butter Ball, and to eat fresh seafood by the beach. The drive down the East Coast Road passes beaches and resorts, and the return fits easily into one day.
What to see in Mahabalipuram
- Shore Temple
- Pancha Rathas (Five Rathas)
- Arjuna's Penance
- Krishna's Butter Ball
- Lighthouse and Mahishasura cave
- Dakshina Chitra on the way
On the road
Take the East Coast Road past Kovalam; Dakshina Chitra and Crocodile Bank are handy stops. Leave by 7:30 am to see the monuments before the midday heat.
A same-day plan
- 7:30 AMPickup from your place in Chennai
- 9:00 AMReach Mahabalipuram and visit the Shore Temple
- 10:30 AMFive Rathas
- 11:30 AMArjuna's Penance, Krishna's Butter Ball and the lighthouse
- 1:00 PMSeafood lunch near the beach
- 3:00 PMStop at Dakshina Chitra on the ECR
- 6:00 PMDrop at your place in Chennai
Timings are a guide — tell us when you want to leave and what you want to see, and the driver will work around it.
Choose your vehicle
Airport runs, couples and small families on short trips.
The usual pick for family trips, ghat roads and long days on the highway.
Extra room and comfort for special occasions and senior guests.
Extended families, pilgrimage parties and office outings.
Weddings, school trips and temple tours with a big party.
Every car is air-conditioned and comes with an experienced driver. Our quote is all-inclusive — fuel, tolls, parking, interstate permit and driver batta — and is confirmed in writing before you book.
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Send us the date, pickup point, number of people and whether you need a return. We reply with the vehicle and a single all-inclusive price.
