Mahabalipuram

 

Famed for its ancient mountains, Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, is one of the places to visit near Chennai. Placed around 60 km south from the city of Chennai, it was once a busy seaport during the dynasty of the Pallavas.

Distance: 52 km

Location: Eastern coast, South of Chennai

Best time to visit: November to March

Attractions:

The iconic Shore Temple, among the oldest temples of South India, is carved out of a large block of granite. A short distance from this place of worship is ‘Descent of the Ganges’ or‘Arjuna'sPenance’.Among the world's biggest bas-reliefs, it depicts the story of the descent of the River Ganges from Heaven to Earth. ‘PanchaRathas’ or the five chariots are again carved out of a single rock and are dedicated to the Pandavas.

Activities:

Explore and observe the fine sculpture of the various monuments standing in Mahabalipuram. The drive from Chennai to Mahabalipuram along the seashore is quite an experience too. The beach at this tourist place near Chennai is also ideal for spending a day just lounging on the sand and relaxing.

Type of destination: Family and kid friendly, historic, beach and pilgrimage