Mahabalipuram travel guide

Distance from Chennai

About 60 km

Best time

October to March

Altitude

About 12 m

Dance festival

January, about four weeks

Status

UNESCO World Heritage Site

History

The town is thought to take its name from Mamalla, a title of the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I. Most of the monuments date from the 7th to the 9th century, when the Pallavas experimented here with carving whole temples out of living rock and then with free-standing stone structures.

What to see

The Shore Temple stands right at the edge of the sea, with waves breaking near its walls. What sets the carvings here apart is how much ordinary life they show: alongside gods and kings you will find villagers milking animals and going about daily work, a rare sight in temple art of the time.

• Shore Temple
• Arjuna's Penance, the great carved rock face
• Pancha Rathas
• Krishna's Butter Ball
• Cave temples (mandapas) on the hill

Dance festival

Each year from early January, the Mamallapuram Dance Festival runs for about four weeks. Dancers perform classical styles from across India on an open-air stage with the monuments lit up behind them, a fine way to spend an evening. Programmes are usually held at weekends; check the schedule with Tamil Nadu Tourism before you plan.

Best time and how to reach

The weather is warm and humid for much of the year; October to March is the most comfortable time to visit. The town sits only about 12 m above sea level, so expect sea breezes rather than cool air.

Chennai airport is the nearest, and the scenic East Coast Road connects the town with both Chennai and Puducherry. Plan a full day to see the main monuments. A combined ticket covers the Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas, and the rest of the rock carvings are in open areas you can walk between. Start early to avoid the midday sun on the rocks. We can arrange a Chennai to Puducherry coastal trip that includes a stop here.

Places to see in Mahabalipuram

Also nearby