Travel Guide - Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram

Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Mahabalipuram is located right on the Coromandel Coast next to the Bay of Bengal. It was a well established sea port during the 7th and 10th centuries of the Pallava dynasty, and has flourished accordingly. This city was actually the 2nd capital of the Pallavas. It was originally named after the rude, cruel, and arrogant King Mahabali who was killed during a fierce battle by Lord Vishnu at that location. It was named by the people more out of gratitude that the heartless king was killed there than out of respect upon his death for his leadership. During the rule of the Pallavas, new styles of art and architecture were pioneered. Mahabalipuram is where they tried and then exhibited their new artistic and architectural creations. As a result, the area is brimming with rock-cut caves and numerous temples. In fact, this region is often referred to as an open museum. Some of the temples were even carved out of one enormous rock rather than simply constructed out of rock. Not much pillaging has occurred here over the centuries, since the wealth of the Pallavas was never flaunted, so the temples are well preserved. The architecture is not the only draw for tourists in this city. The area is also nestled in an especially impressive setting. Beautiful white sandy beaches are plentiful, as are the casuarinas trees that are found in abundance there. Mahabalipuram is also known for providing a fantastic shopping experience. Exquisite local handmade crafts are readily available in the local shops.

When To Go

Mahabalipuram has a moderate and humid climate all through the year. The best time to visit the place is from October to March.

• Winters (November to February) have pleasant days and cool nights. The minimum temperature is usually above 16°C. This time is ideal for sightseeing, outings and other adventurous tourist activities.
• Summers (March to May) are hot and temperatures varies from maximum 42°C to minimum 21°C. It offers hot climate making it difficult for tourist activities.
• Monsoons (June to September) offers a lot of rains and the place becomes very humid.

November to February has nice and pleasant weather and is the perfect time to enjoy sightseeing and adventure activities. June to September months is accompanied by very hot weather and rainfalls making it difficult to travel and carrying out tourist activities.

History

Lying on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, the historical town of Mahabalipuram is known to have been established as a flourishing sea port by the Pallava kings during the period from 7th to 10th century. The city was crowned as the second capital of the Pallava dynasty. Most of the temple was built during this time.

The ancient name of the city was ‘Mamallapuram’ which was later changed into Mahabalipura during the reign of King Narsimha Varman I. A very interesting history is associated with the name of the town. It is said that the King Narsima was awarded with a title ‘Mamalla’ meaning ‘the great wrestler’. It was from this title that the name of the city was derived.

The Pallavas ruled here from the 3rd to the 9th century and during this time many saints and poets were born here. The period from 650 to 750 AD is considered to be the most glorious years of the Pallava rules, as during this time the rulers were the most powerful. Since then the city slipped into oblivion and was revived only in the year 1827, by the British who laid the foundation of the modern city of Mahabalipuram.

Travel within city

There are many modes of transport available within the town of Mahabalipuram, and some of these are buses and rented motorcycles.

Bus

You can also opt for buses that ply around Mahabalipuram. These buses are mainly tourist buses from Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai and other nearby locations. Government run buses from Chennai and Bangalore are also available and these can help you travel around local destinations as well. Bus fares will range between Rs 10 and 30.

Taxi

Cabs can be taken from the city of Chennai to Mahabalipuram, although no cab agencies are centered around Mahabalipuram per se. Cab charges will range around Rs 1000 to 2000.

Rented Motorbike

Rented motorcycles are also available in Mahabalipuram, and these are quite famous among tourists. You can rent out a motorcycle from one of the rental agencies present in the town, and charges will vary around Rs 300 to 350, depending on the type of motorcycle that you go for.

On Foot

Mahabalipuram is a very small town, and all major places of interest are located quite close to each other. You can thus travel to all the major regions in Mahabalipuram through foot. This can help you cut down on your transport expenses, and also help you take in the beauty of the region gradually.

Attractions

Five Ratha's

    mustsee

The Five Rathas, also known as Panch Rathas, is a set of rock temples. They are excellent examples of the evolution of Dravidian style architecture. These temples are built in the same shape as pagodas, and greatly resemble Buddhist shrines and monasteries. The rathas are associated with the great epic Mahabharata. The first ratha that is located right by the entrance gate is Draupadi's Ratha. It is shaped like a hut and is dedicated to the goddess Durga. Next comes Arjuna's Rath. This one has a small portico and carved pillar stones and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are no carvings inside this temple, but many are on the outside. Directly in front of Arjuna's Rath is the Nakula – Sahadev Rath. This ratha has some huge elephant sculptures included that are a huge draw for the Five Rathas. It is dedicated to the God of Rain, Lord Indra. The Bhima Rath is huge. It measures 42 ft in length, 24ft in width, and 25ft in height. The pillars there do contain lion carvings even though the ratha as a whole is incomplete. The largest of the Five Rathas is the Dharamraja Yudhistar's Rath. This rath is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a great example of later built South India temples.

Shore Temple

    mustsee

Tradition has it that there once stood seven temples along the shore line in this area. Today, the only one that is there is the Shore Temple. It was built during the 7th century by the artisan Rajasimha under the rule of Narasimha Varman II. It is one of the oldest temples that can be found in South India that is built in the Dravidian style. It has lately increased in popularity because it is now listed as one of the world heritage sites of the UNESCO. Numerous carvings can be found throughout the temple. Three separate buildings make up the temple. Two are Shiva temples that fast east and west. The third is a Vishnu temple.

Arjuna's Penance

    popular

Arjuna's Penance is a famous rock sculpture that portrays a story out of India lore. It is carved onto the back side of a whale shaped rock. The sculpture measures 9 meters high and 27 meters long. Arjuna is the great hero of the great epic Mahabharata, and the name of the sculpture comes from his story. There is some controversy however as to whether the story portrayed is actually the story of Arjuna or if it is the story of Bhagiratha who is an ancestor to Lord Rama. Numerous gods and demigods as well as animals and people are all carved on the sculpture. The talent that it took to create such a sculpture is obvious and deserves respect. The characters amazingly look both realistic as well as humorous.

Kovalam

    popular The village of Kovalam was originally just a small fishing village that was located 15 kilometers from Mahabalipuram. Today, that fishing village is still there, but has also expanded to become one of the most famous beach resorts in all of India. You can still explore the old sea port that used to exist there. Numerous quality beach resorts can be found at Kovalam. The beaches at that location are absolutely exquisite, and are greatly enjoyed by all that visit there. It is also to these beaches that the well-known Olive Ridley Turtles travel to every year to hatch their eggs.

Open Air Dance Festival

    popular The Open Air Dance Festival in Mahabalipuram is an annual four week festival. It is held right by Arjuna's Penance. The beautiful backdrop adds to the charm of experiencing skilled dancers perform such traditional dances as Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Mohiniattam, Odissi and Kathakali. The use of this open air stage started about 13 centuries ago. Today, the best folk dancers from all over India come to perform during the festival. Other dancers come to see them dance, as do numerous tourists. The effect of skilled dancers combined with the aesthetically pleasing location ad to the special experience that is known as the Open Air Dance Festival.

Sadras

    popular Sadras is an outstanding beach resort that takes advantage of the beautiful landscape. The beaches that surround Mahabalipuram are encompassed by beautiful, green casuarinas groves. The contrast of the vibrant green with the sparkling white beaches is breathtaking, and a sight that numerous tourists want to experience. This beach resort is located 13 kilometers outside of Mahabalipuram. There is an old ruined Dutch Fort and a Dutch cemetery with finely carved headstones at Sadras as well. It is fascinating to explore some of the Dutch history in the region as well as that of India itself.

Shopping

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The shopping is excellent in Mahabalipuram. Handmade crafts made by people in the region are the specialty. These handmade crafts many times come in the form of stone statues carved to look like the enormous originals that are in the area. These statues are normally carved out of granite which enhances their beauty. Many people are more than glad to travel to this region to acquire such fine artistic pieces made by quality artisans. Soapstone images, wood carvings, jewelry, and items made from local seashells are also popular items that are sold in the local shops.

Tiger's Caves

    popular

Tiger's Caves is near the coastal village of Salurankuppam that is only 5 kilometers to the north of Mahabalipuram. This amazing mandapa contains a shrine that is dedicated to the goddess Durga. There are large and impressive figures located in front of the caves. As with most carvings in India, the carvings and figures tell a story. This story has to do with an event that happened to the goddess Durga. The Tiger's Caves are a popular picnic spot, so you may want to plan your day s that you are there at lunch time. Such a picnic would allow you to take in the sights at the caves as well as enjoy the beauty of the landscape itself.

Crocodile Bank

   The Crocodile Bank is located 14 kilometers from Mahabalipuram. It was established by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker in 1976. It houses several different species of Indian and African alligators and crocodiles. They are kept in open pools that are made to resemble their natural habitat. This Crocodile Conservation Center is the most popular site to visit at Crocodile Bank. A snake farm is also located at this site. Anti-venom is produced here. The process of extracting the snake venom is a popular tourist attraction, and it allows the Irulas, the snake catcher's tribe, to make a living. Timings: 10 am to 5 pm, except Monday  Charges: Entry: Rs 30/-  

Itineraries

Distances

Chennai	54 km	1h
Bangalore	346 km	7h
Hyderabad	677 km	10h, 50m

Posted in: Travel