Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site in Tamil Nadu, India. An important place of classical Monuments, the monolithic and cave temples. It is also known as Mamallapuram. This place attracts large number of visitors from all over the world. Mahabalipuram is situated close to the sea and rich in artistic wealth. These monuments afford scope for not only the study ancient architecture and sculpture in the Tamil country.
There are no direct flight services to Mahabalipuram. The nearest airport is in Chennai, around 40 km away. You can hire a taxi from the Chennai airport to reach Mahabalipuram.
You can reach Mahabalipuram via Chennai or drive straight by car. Bus services are available from Chennai and some other cities like Bangalore and Coimbatore.
There are no direct train services to Mahabalipuram. The nearest railway station is the Egmore station, located in Chennai. After reaching Chennai, you can either hire a taxi from outside the railway station or hop on the buses that run regularly from Chennai to Mahabalipuram.
The best time to plan a trip to Mahabalipuram is when the winter season sets in, which is between October and March. The climate remains good with warm days and cold nights, ideal for outdoor activities and for exploring the town. The period from November to February is the peak tourism season when the climate is salubrious. Travelling to Mahabalipuram during summer are generally avoided because of the very high temperatures and the exhausting heat, which makes it difficult to travel around the town for sightseeing.
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.
The serenity, the alluring atmosphere and the impressive setting with many beautiful white sandy beaches dotted with casuarina trees are all reasons as to why one would want to visit this wonderful town. Some famous tourist spots include the UNESCO world heritage site Group of Monuments like the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas, the Crocodile Bank which is home to some exquisite species of crocodiles and alligators, and the beach resorts in Kovalam and Sadras.