Mahabalipuram
Beach is located 58 km south of Chennai (Madras). Mahabalipuram
is also known as "Mamallapuram".
Snuggled
on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram offers
unspolied beach that attracts many foreign tourists to India.
The matchless splendor that Mahabalipuram beach casts is
interestingly unique. The beach is an ideal place to surf and
sunbathe.
TRAVEL
INFORMATIONS:
World famous for its shore temples, Mahabalipuram, was
the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. 58 kilometres
from Madras on the Bay of Bengal, this tiny sea side village of
Mahabalipuram, is set in a boulder strewn landscape. Tourists
are drawn to this place by its miles of unspoiled beach and rock-cut
art. The sculpture of this place, is particularly interesting,
because it shows scenes of day-to- day life, in contrast to the
rest of the state of Tamil Nadu, where carvings generally depict
gods and goddesses.
Mahabalipuram
art can be divided into four categories : open air bas - reliefs,
structured temples, man-made caves and rathas ('chariots' carved
from single boulders, to resemble temples or chariots used in
temple processions). The famous Arjuna's Penance and the Krishna
Mandapa, adorn massive rocks near the centre of the village. The
beautiful Shore Temple towers over the waves, behind a protective
breakwater. Sixteen man-made caves in different stages of completion
are also seen, scattered through the area.
HOW
TO REACH THERE:
BY AIR: The nearest airport with both domestic and international
terminus is Chennai (58-km).
BY
RAIL: The railway stations that are near by are Chengalpattu
(29-km) and Chennai (58-km). From these stations there is the
road route to reach Mahabalipuram.
BY
ROAD: Buses are available from Pondicherry, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu
and Chennai to get to Mahabalipuram everyday. One can also
hire a taxi from Chennai to reach Mahabalipuram.
