Mahabalipuram Tour Package

Mahabalipuram Tour Package

Mahabalipuram is a pleasant 56-kilometer drive from Chennai into a world of sculptural monuments that lay carelessly tossed on a sun-kissed shore. A little coastal town, perhaps as long as a kilometer, it opens up a scenery of opulent monolith temples thick with life-size carvings of deities, human figures and animals. These 7th century Pallava structures are a tribute to the Dravidian school of tradition and bring out the miscellany of South Indian rock-cut temple art. Look up Krishna Butterball, a massive natural boulder that perches at an angle of 45 degree on the edge of a smooth rocky slope.

There are 11 temples known as Mandapas, situated on both sides of the hills of Mahabalipuram. These temples are excellent example of Dravadian architecture. Major tourist attractions in Mahabalipuram are Panch Pandava Rathas, Shore Temple – located shores of Bay of Bengal this consists of a Vishnu Temple and two Shiva Temples, Varaha Caves-rock cut caves having idols of incarnations of Vishnu–Varaha, Mahishasuramardhini Caves, Somaskanda sculptures and Arjuna’s Penance-is one of the biggest open air rock sculptures of the seventh century with intricate carving of life like figures.

Day 01 : Arrival at Chennai

On the very first day at Chennai airport or railway station, we bestow a warm welcome.  You will then be escorted to a pre-booked hotel. Freshen up, refresh yourself and relax.

Day 02 : Chennai sight seeing

As you finish your breakfast, we take you on a sight-seeing of Fort St. George, built in 1640 during the British rule. Shri Kapaleeswar temple and Parthasarthy temple remain our next attractions where you witness immaculate architectural beauty. After lunch, get ready to walk alongside the Marina beach, the second largest beach in the world. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel in the evening is planned.

Day 03 : Chennai to Kanchipuram

In the early morning, we move towards a pre-booked hotel in Kanchipuram, nearly covering one and half hours journey. As you freshen up, we being our journey to Kamakshi Amman temple, dedicated to Goddess Shakti. We also take you to the Kailashanathar temple, built in the 8th century. Get ready to enjoy shopping of the famous handloom products, Kanchipuram sarees, and other artifacts in the local bazaars of the city.

Day 04 : Mahabalipuram

As you finish your breakfast, we move towards the great Mahabalipuram. We cover approximately 65 km distance involving one hour in journey. Architecture of Arjuna's Penance awaits your arrival, a gigantic assortment of the carvings of deers, elephants, monkey along with other animal depictions. Nearby Krishna Mandapa also remains on the charts. Overstay at the hotel in Mahabalipuram is planned thereafter.

Day 05 : Sightseeing of Mahabalipuram

This day is dedicated to Varaha caves, having rock cut Mandapams (halls). There we witness the 3 incarnations of Lord Vishnu in the form of Vaman, Varaha and Vishnu. Thereafter get ready to indulge in some sports with host of other activities, motor boat rides, surfing, angling, biking, etc. Overnight stay at the hotel is planned.

Day 06 : Moving back to Chennai

We move from Mahabalipuram to Chennai. On the very last day of Tamilnadu holidays packages tour, we assist in checking all the relevant formalities. You enjoy splendid time.
The tour comes to an end but not the sweet memories to be cherished forever!

Payments policy

• 25% Amount at the time of booking. 100% Amount 15 days or earlier, before travel date. Payment by cheque or online payment facility available. Your booking confirmation number will be provided to you.

Tour Cancilation policy

• Strictly depends upon concerned hotel's cancellation policy
• Minimum Cancilation charges before 10days of Travel Date is 10% of package cost

• Package cost will change if opted for guide service, choice of transport vehicle, hotel type change
• Accommodation charges as mentioned in the package are with 2 persons staying together sharing the same room
• Extra persons in same room charges extra
• Altough we ensure you the best experience but unfortunate delays in travel and inefficient service of hotel is the responsibility of the respective parties.

By Air:

The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport (Airport Code: MAA), located 55 km northwest of Mahabalipuram (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes drive along the 4-lane East Coast Road / ECR or Rajiv Gandhi IT Expressway / OMR). Chennai Airport offers non-stop domestic flights to all major Indian state capitals and direct international flights to London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. Pre-paid airport taxis and app cabs are available 24/7.

By Train:

The closest railway junction is Chengalpattu Junction (Station Code: CGL), situated 29 km west of Mahabalipuram (about 40 minutes drive). Major long-distance train connections include:

• Chennai Central (Station Code: MAS - 60 km): Premier rail terminal connected by Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, and Shatabdi express trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.
• Chennai Egmore (Station Code: MS - 55 km): Gateway for trains heading across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Frequent suburban local trains run from Chennai Beach/Egmore to Chengalpattu, from where regular direct buses and taxis travel to Mahabalipuram.

By Road:

Mahabalipuram is connected via the scenic 4-lane coastal highway East Coast Road (ECR / SH-49) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR / SH-49A):

• From Chennai (~55 km / 1 hour 15 minutes): Smooth, scenic seaside drive along the Bay of Bengal coastline via Kovalam and Crocodile Bank.
• From Kanchipuram (~65 km / 1.5 hours): Drive via Chengalpattu and Tirukalukundram on SH-58.
• From Pondicherry (~95 km / 2 hours): Beautiful coastal highway drive along the scenic ECR corridor.
• From Bangalore (~350 km / 6.5 hours): National highway drive via Vellore, Ranipet, and Kanchipuram on NH-48.
• State Buses: MTC (Chennai) runs frequent AC Volvo and deluxe express buses (Route 588, 599, 102) from CMBT Koyambedu, T. Nagar, and Thiruvanmiyur directly to Mahabalipuram Bus Stand.

Mahabalipuram features a breathtaking collection of UNESCO oceanfront temples, monolithic stone chariots, open-air bas-reliefs, and gravity-defying boulders:

1. Shore Temple & Stone Nandi Enclosure (8th-Century UNESCO Ocean Monument)

Perched on a granite promontory overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the Shore Temple is an 8th-century structural temple complex built during the reign of Pallava king Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha). Consisting of two Shiva shrines and an Ananthasayana Vishnu shrine, the temple is surrounded by a low boundary wall lined with hundreds of seated granite Nandi bull statues.

Shore Temple — 8th-Century Dravidian Oceanfront UNESCO Heritage Temple in Mahabalipuram

2. Pancha Rathas (Five Monolithic Granite Chariot Temples)

Carved out of single massive pink granite boulders in the late 7th century, the Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) are named after the Pandava brothers (Dharmaraja, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva) and Draupadi. Each ratha represents a unique experimental prototype of Dravidian temple architecture, accompanied by life-size monolithic stone statues of an elephant, a lion, and a bull.

Pancha Rathas — Five 7th-Century Monolithic Chariot Temples Carved from Single Granite Rocks

3. Arjuna's Penance & Descent of the Ganges (World's Largest Bas-Relief)

Measuring 27 meters long by 9 meters high, this colossal open-air rock relief carved across two massive granite boulders depicts the descent of the sacred river Ganges from heaven to earth brought by Sage Bhagiratha's austerities. The cleft between the boulders represents the holy river, surrounded by over 100 intricately chiseled gods, semi-divine nagas, celestial nymphs, and life-size wild elephant families.

Arjuna's Penance — Monumental 27-Meter Open-Air Bas-Relief Carving of the Descent of the Ganges

4. Krishna's Butterball (250-Tonne Gravity-Defying Granite Boulder)

A natural geological phenomenon, Krishna's Butterball (*Vaan Irai Kal*) is a massive 250-tonne granite boulder measuring 6 meters high and 5 meters wide, balancing impossibly on a smooth 45-degree rock slope. Despite centuries of cyclonic winds and historical attempts by Pallava kings and British governors to move it with elephants, the boulder remains immovable.

Krishna's Butterball — 250-Tonne Giant Granite Boulder Balancing on a Steep Rock Slope

5. Tiger Cave (8th-Century Rock-Cut Yali Saluvankuppam Mandapam - 5 km)

Located 5 km north of Mahabalipuram on the coastal highway in Saluvankuppam, Tiger Cave is a rock-cut pavilion featuring an open mandapam bordered by 11 intricately carved *Yali* (mythical lion-faced beasts) heads. Built during the reign of Rajasimha, the site served as an open-air coastal theatre for royal cultural events.

Tiger Cave — 8th-Century Coastal Rock-Cut Pavilion Framed with 11 Carved Yali Lion Heads

6. Varaha Cave Temple & Mahishasuramardini Rock-Cut Mandapam

Carved into rock hills behind Arjuna's Penance, the Varaha Cave features exquisite 7th-century bas-reliefs depicting Lord Vishnu lifting Goddess Bhudevi as Varaha the boar, while the Mahishasuramardini Cave showcases the dramatic battle between eight-armed Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura.

7. Mahabalipuram Historic Lighthouse & Olakkannesvara Temple Viewpoint

Climb the circular granite stairs of India's oldest stone masonry lighthouse (1887) and the 8th-century Olakkannesvara temple crowning the hillock, offering sweeping 360-degree views of the Shore Temple, town monuments, and the vast Bay of Bengal.

8. India Seashell Museum & Marine Aquarium Complex

Recognized as Asia's largest seashell museum, this educational complex houses over 40,000 rare seashells, conchs, fossilized mollusks, pearls, and marine artifacts collected from across the world's oceans.

9. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust & Reptile Center (14 km)

Founded by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker along the East Coast Road, this world-renowned reptile conservation sanctuary is home to over 2,400 crocodiles, alligators, gharials, giant Aldabra tortoises, and king cobras.