Mahabalipuram Tourist Attractions

The temple town of Mahabalipuram recognized as a World Heritage Site is dotted with spellbound stone carvings,rock-cut art, miles of serene beaches with glittering sands ,ancient temples mostly built during the reign of the Pallavas which dates back to 7th century though frozen in time but still retaining its aura.

Thirukadalmallai
This awe-inspiring temple was constructed by the Pallava King is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple was constructed to protect the sculptures from the destructive waves of the sea. It is said that after the temple was built, the structure remained undamaged.

Arjuna's Penance
The pride of India, Arjuna's Penance is a huge bas-relief which dates back to 7th century is built on two enormous boulders having marvellous carvings depicting tales from Panchatantra. It is 31 metres in length and 9meters in breadth. The rock is in the shape of the back of a whale containing the figures of Demigods, Gods, Beasts, Birds and Men.

Five Rathas
The five rathas or the five monolithic temples set in midst of casurina trees attracts a whopping number of tourists.These five monolithic temples modeled around chariots known as 'Rathas' are unique in style. They are also known as the 'Pancha Pandava Rathas' representing the five Pandavas, the central characters of Indian epic Mahabharata. The most striking feature of this structure is that all the four Rathas are made out of a single rock formation.

Dakshinachitra
A charming heritage village, Dakshinachitra is a model of 19th century village of southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. The roads, utensils and other things belong to that era.

Shore Temples
A beautiful specimen of the Dravidian architectural style and temple art, Shore Temple which dates back to 8th century AD is one of the oldest temples in South India and is a world heritage site. It looks awesome in moonlit nights when the monuments shimmer in flickering light at night.

Tiger's Cave
Situated at a distance of 4kms from the main monument complex of the Mahabalipuram beach, it is a peaceful place situated on the Coromandel Coast. It is actually an open-air theatre where various cultural activities and programs showcase the rich cultural heritage of Tamilnadu.

Crocodile Bank
Situated at a distance of 14kms from Mahabalipuram, the bank is a perfect platform from where different varieties of crocodiles can be viewed. The snake farm situated near the crocodile bank is a worth visiting place as anti-venom is produced for treating people suffering from snakebites.

Krishna Mandapam
A splendidly carved stone temple, Krishna Mandapam is a superb specimen of rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram. The most attractive thing about the Mandapam is that the walls exhibit marvellous picture of pastoral life and an image of Lord Krishna shown lifting the huge Govardhan Hill.