- Best time
- November to March
- Distance Chennai to Mahabalipuram
- About 57 km
- UNESCO sites
- Mahabalipuram, Great Living Chola Temples, Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Mahabalipuram
The Pallava monuments at Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), about 57 km from Chennai, date largely from the 7th century. They include rock-cut cave shrines, monolithic rathas carved from single boulders and the Shore Temple beside the sea. The group is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arjuna's Penance, a huge carved rock face full of gods, animals and people, is the most famous single work.
Great Living Chola Temples
Three Chola temples share UNESCO status. The Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, more than a thousand years old, is famous for its tall tower topped by a stone said to weigh around 80 tonnes, and for its huge lingam and Nandi. Gangaikonda Cholapuram, near Jayankondam, has a temple modelled on it. The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, near Kumbakonam, is shaped like a chariot and covered with fine miniature carvings.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram is especially close to Virudhachalam and pairs well with Thanjavur and Darasuram in a single trip.
Forts, palaces and memorials
The state has much more to see beyond its temples:
- Gingee Fort, spread over three rocky hills, with a stiff climb to the top of Rajagiri
- Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, Madurai
- Fort St. George, Chennai
- Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue, Kanyakumari
- The Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty, part of a UNESCO listing
Best time to visit
November to March is the most comfortable season, with daytime temperatures roughly between 20°C and 30°C, ideal for walking around temple complexes and forts. Start early, as stone courtyards heat up by midday, and carry a cloth bag for footwear. Most temples close for a few hours after noon, so plan forts and museums for the middle of the day.
We can plan a monuments tour covering Mahabalipuram, the Chola temples, Gingee and Madurai, customised to the number of days you have.
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