Mahabalipuram’s carvings (including Arjuna’s Penance, one of the largest rock reliefs in the world) make an easy and rewarding day trip.
Highlights
- Shore Temple
- Arjuna’s Penance
- Pancha Rathas
- Krishna’s Butterball
What to eat
- Seafood at beach restaurants
Where to stay
Beach resorts along the East Coast Road.
Getting there
About 1-1.5 hours from Chennai airport.
Tips
- Visit at sunrise for the best light at the Shore Temple.
- The Mamallapuram Dance Festival runs in winter.
Best time to visit
Nov-Feb. See what else is good in November and our best time to visit India guide.
Places to see in and around Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
59 places within 40 km. Tap I’ve been to add them to your India passport.
- Group of monuments at Mahabalipuram World Heritage Site, 0 km
- Shore Temple Temple, 1 km
- Varaha Cave Temple Temple, 18 km
- Pancha Rathas Temple, 1 km
- Descent of the Ganges World Heritage Site, 0 km
- Mahishasuramardini Mandapa Temple, 0 km
- Dharmaraja Ratha Monument, 1 km
- Draupadi Ratha Temple, 0 km
- Tiger Cave Temple, 5 km
- Arjuna Ratha Monument, 1 km
- Bhima Ratha Monument, 1 km
- Panchapandava Cave Temple Temple, 0 km
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 37 km
- Ganesha Ratha Temple, 0 km
- ISKCON Temple Chennai Temple, 32 km
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park Zoo, 31 km
- Patalathri Narasimhar Temple Temple, 26 km
- Krishna Cave Temple Temple, 0 km
- Olakkannesvara Temple Temple, 0 km
- Eri-Katha Ramar Temple Temple, 36 km
- Malik ibn Dinar Mosque Mosque, 20 km
- Sirudavoor Lake Lake, 8 km
- Kolavai Lake Lake, 24 km
- Chitlapakkam aeri Lake, 35 km
And 35 more on our Tamil Nadu map.
Food to try in and around Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
Tamil Nadu favourites to look out for.
- Idli
- Dosa
- Pongal
- Sambar
- Rasam
- Filter coffee
- Kootu
- Thayir sadam
- Rava idli
- Vada
- Palani Panchamirtham GI: sweet
- Srivilliputtur Palkova GI: sweet
The full food passport, state by state.
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