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Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram which is Located barely 55 kilometres from Chennai, Mahabalipuram can be accessed from all over the country easily. While Chennai is the nearest airport and also nearest railhead, Mahabalipuram can also be reached from other major cities of south India, such as Madurai, Coimbatore and Pondicherry.

Places to visit in Mamallapuram

Temples and heritage monuments are the best places to visit in Mahabalipuram. Being the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city boasts a lot of these in number and each one of them being a gem in its own ways. If you are traveling to this wonderful city of Tamil Nadu, you need to make a list of places that you will have to cover.

Temples in Mamallapuram

Although Mahabalipuram is an ideal escapade for all kinds of travelers but the temples still remain the prime attractions of this place. Built between 700 and 728 AD, Shore Temple is one of the best attractions of this place, the city offers much more for the devotees. While there are certainly a lot of temples that can be visited on your trip to Mahabalipuram; here is the list of temples in Mahabalipuram that can’t be missed.

  • The Shore Temple
  • Varaha Cave Temple
  • Krishna Mandpam
  • Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple
  • Ganesh Ratha Temple
  • Tiger Cave Temple
  • Sri Sthala Sayanaperumal Temple

Monuments in Mamallapuram

Embossed like a tag on the face of Tamil Nadu; innumerable boastful, ancient, and charismatic monuments are the top-notch attractions of the city. Heritage monuments and Mahabalipuram go hand in hand. These monuments are centuries old and display remarkable craftsmanship and architectural magnificence. People from across the globe come here to visit these monuments due to their inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Sights.

If you are planning on taking a trip to Mahabalipuram then missing out on the ancient monuments will leave your trip incomplete. Some of the finest monuments of the city include:

  • Descent of the Ganges
  • Monuments at Mahabalipuram
  • Arjuna's Penance
  • Pancha Rathas
  • Krishna's Butter Ball
  • Raya Gopuram

Museums in Mamallapuram

Apart from beautiful sculptures on the temple walls and monuments; Mahabalipuram boasts a list of museums housing some interesting artifacts of the past.

Not just artifacts but paintings, coins and much more are places at these museums. Exploring the is one of the to-do things in Mahabalipuram.. Listed below are a few museums that you can visit on your trip.

  • India Seashell Museum
  • Sculpture Museum
  • Maritime Heritage Museum
  • Lighthouse Heritage Museum

Beaches in Mamallapuram

Mahabalipuram is located along the coast which is why it offers some of the finest beaches of India. Golden sand, beautiful sunset, and mouthwatering cuisines; all of these things make the beaches of this city a wonderful place to visit. If you love beach hopping or wish to spend some time with your travel partner at the beach, listed below are some places you can head to. Moreover, they offer a few water sports as well.

  • Wide Beach
  • Mahabalipuram Beach

Ancient Caves in Mamallapuram

Interestingly, Mahabalipuram is dotted with a few ancient caves some of which are now turned into ancient cave temples, and some are converted into cave tourist destinations. More or less, these ancient caves are alluring and engaging to visit. Do not miss out on the above-mentioned cave temples and below-listed caves during your Mahabalipuram tour.

Connectivity:

Located barely 55 kilometres from Chennai, Mahabalipuram can be accessed from all over the country easily. While Chennai is the nearest airport and also nearest railhead, Mahabalipuram can also be reached from other major cities of south India, such as Madurai, Coimbatore and Pondicherry.

By Air :
NEOCONChennai International Airport is the nearest airport to Mahabalipuram, roughly 55 kilometres away. Apart from being well-connected with a host of domestic airlines with the rest of the country, Chennai airport is also well-linked internationally. Taxis and buses are easily available from the airport for Mahabalipuram.

Train :
NEOCONWhile Chennai happens to be the nearest railhead yet again for Mahabalipuram, the coastal town is also well-connected by train with the rest of the major cities like Madurai, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram and even Kochi. Trains from the above-mentioned cities for Mahabalipuram ply on a regular basis and tickets can be booked easily.

Road :
NEOCONIf you love long drives, you can also opt for a road trip to Mahabalipuram from a number of cities in south India. Buses from Chennai, Pondicherry, Madurai and Coimbatore ply on a regular basis and can be availed easily.

Best time to visit Mahabalipuram
Because of its geographical location (along the coast), Mahabalipuram enjoys a humid and tropical climate almost throughout the year. Summers can get scorching hot and humid, thus making it somewhat difficult for the tourists to explore around. Monsoons are humid and the moderate rainfall also makes it somewhat uncomfortable for the tourists. Winters are best time to visit Mahabalipuram as the weather is pleasant with humidity in the air reduced considerably.

The maximum temperature in December is 28 degrees and it drops as low as 15 degrees Celsius. This is the best time to visit MAMALLAPURAM as the weather is extremely pleasant during this period.