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Location : In the south Indian State of
Kerala, on the high ranges of the western ghats.
Tourist Attractions : Arjuna's Penance, The Varaha Cave,
Rathas, Krishna Mandapam, Shore Temple, Kanchipuram, Vedanthangal,
Covelong, Crocodile Bank, Muttukadu.
Best Buys : Local handicrafts
BestHangouts:The seashore at Mahabalipuram |
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Best Activity : Stroll along the beach
side.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Kanchipuram, Pondicherry,
Chennai, Thanjavur (Tanjore).
When to Visit : September to May
About Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram with its picturesque
location on a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon is
absolutely a great place to visit. The sea side town is a harmonious
combination of history, good beaches, hassle-free tourism and
fabulous sea food! Despite being crowded through out the year, the
place is friendly, relaxed, and the villagers are remarkably
undisturbed by their crowds of visitors. Mahabalipuram is well known
for its series of impressive rathas and the spectacularly carved
relief depicting Arjuna's Penance. The magnificent Shore Temple,
built by king Rajasimha in the 17th century, is a unique temple that
shelters the shrines of both Shiva and Vishnu while the Varaha Cave
is one of the many rock-cut caves in Mahabalipuram. The city of
Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram, is full of sculpture workshops all
around and many artisans thrive on this art here.
Major Tourist Attractions in Mahabalipuram
Arjuna's Penance
Arjuna's Penance, a massive relief made on two huge boulders, is a
complete universe itself in stone. This colossus of art, 27 m long
and 9 m high, is perhaps the world's largest bas-relief. There are
some exquisite examples of artistry carved out off stone here, the
sight of which should not missed.
Caves
The Varaha Cave, a small rock-cut mandapam (hall), is a faceted and
finished gem with two incarnations of Vishnu-Varaha (boar) and
Vamana (dwarf). Particularly remarkable are four panels of the
famous Pallava doorkeepers. The Dharmaraja Cave, built in the early
17th century, contains three empty shrines. The Mahisasurmardini
Cave (mid-17th century) has exemplary bas-reliefs on its panels of
everlasting beauty. The Somaskanda sculpture emits peace, power, and
wisdom while Lord Vishnu is shown in omniscient repose in a
masterpiece of dhwani (the art of suggestion). On the opposite side
is a huge theatrical panel showing, Goddess Durga's fight with the
demon Mahishasura, an episode culled from the celebrated Sanskrit
poem Devi Mahatmya.
Rathas (Chariots)
A group of beautiful structures scattered at the southern extreme of
Mahabalipuram, amidst casuarina trees, are the well known Rathas
(chariots). Known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas, they are five in
number. Out of these, four are carved out of a single rock, while
the fifth one on the west is chiseled out from a small rock. The
square Draupadi and Arjuna Rathas, the linear Bhima Ratha, the
taller Dharamraja Ratha and the apsidal Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha,
completes the complex.
Krishna Mandapam
The amazingly carved stone temple is one of the earliest rock-cut
temples of Mahabalipuram. The walls of the temples displays picture
of pastoral life, one with the image of Krishna lifting the
Govardhan Hill in his fingertips to protect his people from Indra.
Shore Temple
The windswept and surf-beaten Shore Temple evokes the aura of
Mahabalipuram. A three-in-one abode of god - a Vishnu temple
confined between two Shiva temples, the Shore Temple is a visual
delight. The surroundings of the temple abound in architectural
masterpieces.
Covelong
About 19 km from Mahabalipuram is situated the picturesque beach
resort of Covelong, a peaceful fishing village with the remnants of
a fort. Facilities for windsurfing, swimming and water sports are
available here. If you are in Mahabalipuram, don't forget to visit
this place.
Crocodile Bank
The Crocodile bank is located nearly 14 km away from Mahabalipuram
on the Chennai-Mahabalipuram road. The bank is a perfect place to
view large variety of crocodiles. Located nearby is a snake farm
where anti-venom is produced for treating snakebites.
Getting There
Air : The nearest airport from Mahabalipuram is Chennai (Madras),
located around 60 km away. One can get flights for almost all major
destinations in India.
Rail : The nearest railway station, Chengalpattu, is around 29 km
away from Mahabalipuram.
Road : Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is connected by road to all the
major cities and towns of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
Accommodation
Several types of accommodation options, from economy to high-class,
are available in Mahabalipuram. The best option is to check into one
of the several beach resorts spread across the town. Almost all the
accommodations offer quality facilities and services as per the
requirement of the visitors.
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