The spectacular beach of Mahabalipuram attracts thousands of tourists all through the year. While at the beach you may sun bathe, relax and unwind yourself. At the same time you may explore the magnificent monuments besides the beautiful beaches. The dreamy rock cut art is an amazingly extravaganza. For the more ecclesiastical tourists there are the temples besides the shores, rathas, Arjuna's penance that are exclusive to the region. A crocodile bank, snake venom extracting centre, schools of art and sculpture and a wide spectrum of resorts along the beach entice holiday-seekers all round the year.

Mahabalipuram, previously known as 'Mamallapuram', is 55 kilometers off to Chennai, the capital city of Tamilnadu. Mahabalipuram, the magnificent city ashore Coromandel, was once a trading port of the Pallavas. It is believed to have been named after the Pallava king Mamalla. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th century, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Buses arrive in the centre of the town from either Koyembedu or Tiruvanmiyur (in Chennai) and Kanchipuram.Take any bus that has ECR written on the front, but be warned some buses will drop you outside town, and don't go into the town proper. You can also catch the bus from Pondicherry.

A taxi from Chennai will cost Rs. 600-800 one-way (USD 15 to 20) though the rates are likely to be higher based on the season, cab operator. Visitors outside Chennai, even Indian nationals and most definitely from Overseas are likely to be asked for higher rates. To or from the airport will cost Rs.800-1200 and will take one hour off peak and 1 1/2 hours peak time. Please negotiate the cab fares at the beginning of the journey and remain firm if the operator asks for more.

The drive from Chennai on the East Coast Road is, by Indian standards, a wonderful experience: it is one of the few toll roads in India and maintained well. That said, it's still only one lane per direction with no divider, so overtaking tends to be hair-raising and high-speed head-on collisions are all too common. The road runs parallel to the coast of Bay of Bengal making it a scenic driveway, although you will not see the sea until the last few miles. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami wreaked havoc around here, so you will see shanty-towns built for affected fishermen and much of the greenery has been swept away.)

Dakshinachitra
While travelling from Chennai to Mahabalipuram visit Dakshinachitra - a heritage centre. Here traditional crafts persons and folk artists work and perform in the reconstructed period settings of 19th century homes, streets and workspaces of the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Arjuna's Penance
Arjuna's Penance in Mahabalipuram The world's largest bas-relief measuring 27m x 9m is the pride of Mahabalipuram. This huge whaleback shaped rock contains figures of Gods, Demigods, men, beasts, birds and infact represents the entire creation.

Five Rathas

These are five monolithic temples, each created in a different style. They are also known as the "Pancha Pandava Rathas", and the four of the Rathas are supposed to have scooped out of a single rock formation.

Tiger's Cave
It is 4-km north of the main monument complex. It was an open-air theatre, where cultural programmes are held. Though it is very near the sea, the place is serene and calm.

Shore Temple
This is one of the oldest temples in south India. It belongs to the early 8th century AD and is a good example of the first phase of structural temples constructed in Dravidian style. The monuments are floodlit at night and so it is possible to enjoy their beauty after sunset.

As always in India, where there are temples there are so called guides offering to share their knowledge for a high fee. The ocean at Mahabalipuram can have particularly strong currents, so care should be taken when swimming. This is particularly the case to the right of the Shore Temple.