Andaman Islands Tour
Destinations: Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai
Duration: 10 Nights/ 11 Days
(View more...)Chennai Golden Triangle Tour
Destinations Covered: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Chennai
Duration: 05nights/06 days
(View more...)Panoramic South India Tour
Duration: 13 Nights/ 14 Days
Destinations: Chennai-Trichy- Madurai-Kodaikanal- Periyar-Kollam- Cochin-Mumbais
(View more...)Rejuvination and Meditation Tour
Duration: 16 Nights/ 17 Days
Destinations: Chennai – Mahabalipuram- Thanjavur – Swamimalai Ayurvedic Resort-Trichy-Madurai –Rameshwaram-Kovalam-Thiruvananthapuram
(View more...)South India Ayurveda Tour
Duration: 13 Nights/ 14 Days
Destinations: Chennai- Trichy-Tanjore-Trichy- Madurai-Periyar- Kumarakom-Cochin- Marari Beach
(View more...)South India Temple Tour
Duration: 12 Nights/ 13 Days
Destinations: Chennai-Tirupati-Chennai-Kanchipuram - Mamallapooram - Tiruvannamalai – Pondicherry- Chidambaram – Tanjore- Trichy – Madurai- Trivandrum
(View more...)South India Temples & Beaches Tour
Duration: 14 Nights/ 15 Days
Destinations: Chennai-Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram-Chennai- Trichy-Tanjore- Madurai-Periyar- Cochin-Goa-Mumbai
(View more...)South India Tour
Duration: 10 Days/09 Nights
Destinations: Madras - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Kovalam - Mumbai
(View more...)South India Wildlife & Mountain Tour
Duration: 12 Nights/ 13 Days
Destinations: Bangalore - Bennarghatta- Mysore - Ranganathittu- Nagarhole-Bandipur- Ooty- Coimbatore
(View more...)Wildlife in South India
Duration: 15 Nights/16 Days
Destinations: Chennai - Mettupalayam - Madhumalai - Bandipur - Mukurthy - Ooty - Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary - Munnar - Periyar - Cochin
(View more...)
Mahabalipuram
Home | Excursions | Mahabalipuram
Location: Kanchipuram District
Distance: 60 km from Chennai
Main Attraction: Shore Temple
Mahabalipuram city is a holy land located in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. Flanked by a number of historical monuments from the bygone era, the city used to be under the Pallava dynasty rule and was even named after Mamalla-the Pallava King. A declared UNESCO World Heritage Site list, these monuments shedding light on the glorious past is a delight from travel and tourism point of view.
The temples are basically rock cut monuments having originated between 7th and 9th century. Although the complex houses several famous temples, the most popular one is the Shore Temple renowned for its skilled craftsmanship and intricate carvings. Dedicated to both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, the temple lies on the shore facing the sea.
The architecture exhibit a pleasant synthesis of Dravidian and Pallava style. Whereas the temple majority of monuments including pillars exhibit Dravidian art, sculptures display the best of Pallava art. It is believed that the construction faced sudden withdrawal of patronage, apparent from several incomplete structures.
Attractions at Mahabalipuram
Intricate carvings and craftsmanship adorn these ancient Mandapas found in large numbers in Mamallapuram. The sculptures mainly comprises of Gods and Goddesses figures displaying artistic skills of Pallavan rock cutters. The figure of an Elephant God Ganesh Mandapam is an active shrine and highly regarded by devout pilgrims. Another famous sculpture is Varaha Mandapam dedicated to Varaha - the boar and Vamana - the dwarf, the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. An unfinished yet famous sculpture is the Panch Pandava Mandapam adorned with delicate carvings.
Rathas are also quite popular in the complex and designed in the form of monolithic chariots temples. The superlative carvings exhibit such detailed carvings so as to give the impression that they are made up of wood. Five of the chariots are dedicated to Pandavas and Draupadi with Dharmaraja Ratha being the largest and Draupadi Ratha the smallest one.
