Things to do in Mahabalipuram
Famous for its intricately carved temples and rock-cut caves, Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram as it is famously known, is a historically important and well-loved tourist location situated on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Once the abode of the famous demon king Mahabali, Mahabalipuram was later renamed Mamallapuram.
Arjuna's Penance
Quintessentially an Indian aspect, there is 96 feet long and 43 feet wide humongous open-air relief in Mahabalipuram, classified a World Heritage site, with every millimetre of the monolithic rock carved intricately with scenes and characters that no one has been able to make up their mind about.
Shore Temple
Built by King Narasimhavarman back in the 8th century out of massive slabs of granite, the Shore temple is really religious complex housing three temples, situated on the coastline of the Bay of Bengal. It often acted as a guiding force to people and ships riding Bay of Bengal’s choppy waters, frequently luring them to the coastline.
Five Chariots
Five Chariots are stupendous monolith shrines dedicated to each of the Pandavas from the epic saga of Mahabharata. Created by the Pallavan kings and labelled World Heritage site, each shrine here has been carved out of a single block of pink granite and intricately sculpted into existence.
Krishna's Butter Ball
Defying gravity, the boulder is balanced precariously on a narrow base. It is symbolic of Lord Krishna's love for butter. According to legend, it is a representation of the amount of butter that Lord Krishna used to steal and eat. It's something of a marvel given its precarious position and the fact that it hasn't moved in centuries.
Kanchipuram (enroute)
Kanchipuram’s temples showcase some of the best in Dravidian architecture, an amalgam of styles introduced by the city’s many rulers over the centuries. Prominent ones are Kailasnath temple, Ekambareswarar temple, Varadaraja Perumal temple & Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple.
Best Hotels in Mahabalipuram
Radisson Blu Temple Bay
Mahabalipuram
FIRST CLASS
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