Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram is an ancient city in the Tamilnadu state of India. If you are on a day’s visit to Mahabalipuram, you can visit the following places.
- Pancha Rathas
- Mahishasuramardini Mandapa
- Mahabalipuram lighthouse and beach
- Mahabalipuram group of monuments
- Shore temple
- Ganesh Ratha and Krishna’s Butterball
- Tiger Cave
Pancha Rathas
It is a monument complex, built in the monolithic Indian rock-cut architectural style. There are five monuments resembling chariot. It is also called as Pandava Ratha, name driven from the tale of Mahabharata.
Address: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Contact: +91 44 2533 3444
Visiting time: 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Time to spend: 40 minutes
Next destination: Mahishasuramardini Mandapa, 10 minutes walk
Mahishasuramardini Mandapa
It is a rock-cut cave temple built during the 7th century by Pallava king. In fact, most of the structures in Mahabalipuram dates back to this time.
Address: Mada Koil St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Time to spend: 40 minutes
Next destination: Mahabalipuram lighthouse and beach, 5 minutes walk
Mahabalipuram lighthouse and beach
The lighthouse in Mahabalipuram was closed from the year 2001-2011, because of threat from the Tigers. The site is open since the year 2011 for the tourists.
Address: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Time to spend: 1.5 hours
Next destination: Mahabalipuram group of monuments, 5 minutes walk
Mahabalipuram group of monuments
It is a World Heritage site having 400 ancient monuments and temples.
Address: Fisherman Colony, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Contact: +91 44 2744 2232
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next destination: Shore temple, 40 minutes drive
Shore temple
The Shore temple overlooks the Bay of Bengal shore. It is an 8th-century structure built from blocks of granite stone.
Address: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next destination: Ganesh Ratha and Krishna’s Butterball, 15 minutes walk
Ganesh Ratha and Krishna’s Butterball
Ganesh Ratha is a chariot shaped temple carved from pink granite stone. It is also a part of Mahabalipuram group of monuments.
Krishna’s Butterball is a huge granite rock weighing about 250 tons and lying on an inclined surface.
Address: E Raja St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Visiting time: 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next destination: Tiger cave, 40 minutes drive
Tiger Cave
It is yet again an 8th-century rock-cut Hindu cave temple. The entrance of the temple has carvings of tiger’s mouth, hence called the tiger cave.
Address: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Visiting time: 07:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Time to spend: 1 hour
Route to follow
You can also book a multicity cab in Mahabalipuram and travel around these places in luxury.
Folks, are you also looking for?
5 Lovely places to visit from Mahabalipuram
The appetizing Mahabalipuram food