Also referred to as Mamallapuram, Mahabalipuram is a town around 60 km away from Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Dating back to the time of Periplus and Ptolemy, it was a busy seaport and till date has ancient historical significance associated with it. Offering a panorama of ratha-like structures (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), huge open-air rock reliefs and the Shore Temple which glorifies Lord Shiva,it has been classified as a major UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Some major attractions of Mahabalipuram
Thirukadalmallai Temple
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple was built by Pallava King to protect the architectural structures and sculptures from corrosion by the ocean. The whole area of the temple has huge structures carved straight from the rock in the central hillside area and the scenic beauty amidst hills is breath-taking. The design incorporates smooth rock rising out of the forest and carved stairways leading between the mandapas (pavilions), caves and carvings.
Descent of the Ganges
It is a giant open-air rock relief.
Krishna's Butterball
A giant natural rock perched on a hillside is a delight for visitors as they can capture themselves placing their hands under the stone imitating to hold it.
The Five Rathas
Dating back to the 7th century, these five rathas (chariots) are five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas namely Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva along with Draupadi.The entire sculptural magnificence also has enormous stone animals and are carved from a huge singular piece of stone.
The Shore Temple
Built around 700 AD and existing for more than 1400 years, this temple is home to Shiva Lingam enshrined in the central building. It has intricate structural designs along the Bay of Bengal with the entrance from the western side of the sea.
Mahishamardini Cave
It contains carvings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati along with Murugan.
Tiger Cave
It has a Hindu temple noted for its tiger carvings. Also, the entrance to the temple is through the mouth of the cave.
Varaha Cave
It has four impressive carvings of Lord Vishnu, Gakalakshmi, Trivikama and Goddess Durga.
Shopping in Mahabalipuram
Stone sculptures, soapstone handicrafts, wood carvings and sea-shell articles and jewellery made by local artists are famous shopping items from Mahabalipuram.
How to Reach
Mahabalipuram is well connected by air through Chennai International Airport and by rail via Chengalpattu.
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The arrangement of our trip was so perfectly done, that i could not find even a single fault or drawback for which i could provide a suggestion. We are so much impressed and touched by the hospitality and services provided. To be frank, we have already started to plan for our next holiday, may be sometime in the end of the year. We will get back to you soon :-) Thanks again Exceptional Escapes.....you guys are truly EXCEPTIONAL!!!! -
The trip in general has been exceptional
The driver was a sweetheart. Always bringing me something to eat or drink and also always carrying a beautiful smile -
Airport Representative was very Good Tour & Guide Services was very Good Ground Services was excellent Hotel Services was excellent -
Generally all are good except that in shimla. Silverine hotel is not a suitable hotel for elderly people as they need to walk up and downhill to the hotel….though the place is ideal for shoppers -
Thank you so very much for going above and beyond to ensure that we had a wonderful trip. I have been telling everyone about your hospitality. I truly had a great time and I especially am thankful for all your organizing and to take time to show us your family and invite us to your home. You have a beautiful family and I think Choti (your little sister) is so adorable -
Hi Gaurav, thanks for following up and for all your efforts in making all the necessary arrangements for my trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. A few suggestions on how you might improve your services for future bookings -
Many thanks for putting together a wonderful and memorable vacation for us. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We did not find anything lacking from your side. It was our first visit to India and it seems like we are already planning to be back. The pace was hectic so we did not find much time to visit the local markets which we will have to make up next time -
We reached home safely on Sunday morning (USA time) and slept most of the day. I cannot thank you enough for all your help and efforts in making our trip such a wonderful success. I will never forget the experiences we had and fun time we enjoyed all throughout the trip. I will send you pictures soon.....'not to worry!!!' -
We waited almost two years to meet again and it was well worth it. Everybody had a fantastic time and loved every moment of it. Your friend speaks very good English now and we all wish her well in the future. It seems that shopping with your friend was the highlight of the trip, the ladies would not stop talking about it -
