Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is a town in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. The ancient name of the place is Thirukadalmallai. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 7th- and 8th-century Hindu Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. It is one of the famous tourist sites in India. It is a part of Chennai Metropolitan Area. It is a satellite town of Chennai.
Mamallapuram was one of two major port cities in the Pallava kingdom. The town was named after Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who was also known as Mamalla. Along with economic prosperity, it became the site of a group of royal monuments, many carved out of the rock. These are dated to the 7th and 8th centuries: rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), the giant open-air rock relief the Descent of the Ganges.
The famous Shore Temple is dedicated to Shiva. As the Sivalinga is damaged no Pooja is performed here.
Neolithic burial urn, cairn circles and jars with burials dating to the 1st century BCE have been discovered near Mahabalipuram.
The site has 40 ancient monuments and Hindu temples, including Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna’s Penance – one of the largest open-air rock relief in the world.
Another attraction is a huge rock called Krishna’s butterball, 6 m (20 ft) high, 5 m (16 ft) wide, weighs around 250 tonnes, granite boulder, view from SE. Mahabalipuram.
It is right next to the seashore so people enjay the beach also.
How to reach Mahabalipuram:
By air: The nearest airport is in Chennai, around 40 km away. You can hire a taxi from the Chennai airport to reach Mahabalipuram.
By train: The nearest railway station is the Egmore station, located in Chennai 40KM.
By road: Bus services are available from Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore.
