Mamallapuram also called Mahabalipuram is a beach town well known for its stone carvings. The Mahabalipuram resorts are popular with tourists.
Location:
It is one of the most popular holiday spot near Chennai. It is at a distance of 50 kilometers from Chennai towards the south. It is quite easy to reach the beach town via East Coast Road. If the traffic is less then it takes about an hour’s drive to reach the town from Chennai. The East Coast Road is lined with food stalls, restaurants and small parks. The traffic is usually heavy during weekends or national holidays. From Pondicherry it is at a distance of 95 kilometers.
How to reach:
From Chennai you can easily hire a bus or a cab. The cab fares are usually negotiable. The drive from Chennai to Mahabalipuram is wonderful with scenic landscapes all around. The closest railway station from Mahabalipuram is at Chingleput at a distance of 29 kilometers.
Mahabalipuram Facts:
1. The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram is a part of UNESCO heritage project.
2. Mamallapuram goes back to the Pallava dynasty in the seventh- ninth century.
3. The stone structures here are carved out of granite. They are amongst the most erstwhile examples of Dravidian architecture present till date.
Mahabalipuram Weather:
The climate of Mahabalipuram is quite hot and humid. The temperature in summer is reaches as high as 38 degree centigrade. From September to December the whether is quite rainy. It is comparatively cooler in winters; however the temperature never drops down below 20 degree centigrade. The best time to explore the stone sculptures is from December to March.
Places to see in Mahabalipuram:
1. Shore Temple: This is the oldest architecture in Mahabalipuram. It was built in the 7th century. It is quite difficult to believe that this temple is more than fourteen hundred years old. The shore temple was struck by a cyclone and most part of it had to be restored. The area surrounding the temple has been made into a beautiful park.
2. Five Rathas: There are five chariots dating back from the seventh century. There are several huge stone animals complimenting the chariots, which include a large tusker.
3. Thirukadalmallai: This is a temple build by the Pallava King in honor of Lord Vishnu. It is said that the king built this temple to prevent further damage caused by the ocean to the buildings and sculptures. Soon after this temple was erected the constant corrosion caused by the ocean stopped.
4. Sculpture Museum: It is an interesting museum with several sculptures and carvings in wood as well as stone on display.
5. Arjuna Penance: It is also called the Descent of the Ganges. A huge basso-relievo is filled with exquisite sculpts including a monkey family and an elephant family. The Archaeologists are still trying to interpret the meaning of this basso-relievo.
6. Krishna’s Butterball: This is quite an interesting natural phenomenon. Krishna’s Butterball is an enormous rock alighted naturally on a sidehill.
7. Mahishamardini Cave: The primal sculptures are of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
There are lots of things to do in this beach town. You can explore the stone carved structures, relax on the beach, do on a trekking trip, enjoy boating, learn fishing or for the spiritual experience enroll yourself into a yoga camp.
Happy Travel!
