Mahabalipuram Beach, an Attractive Tourist Destination in Tamil Nadu

Mahabalipuram beach, which is also known as the Mamallapuram beach is one of the best tourist destinations
in Tamil Nadu. The beach is located at a distance of about 58 km towards south of Chennai and about 100 km towards north of Pondicherry. This fabulous golden sand beach is located on the east coast of India, on the shores of Bay of Bengal. There are plenty of attractions on this beach like the caves, chariots, temples and rock cut sculptures making this place a perfect destination for a beach holiday. A large number of tourists come to this place to enjoy the scenic surrounding of this place, throughout the year.

Activities

The beach is very much popular among the international tourists for sun bathing. Adventure sports activities like wind surfing, motor boating and diving are provided at this beach. Another place of interest at this place is the crocodile farm where about 5000 crocodiles of 6 different species are bred. Snake venom extracting center and a school of art and sculpture are also some of the must visit destinations of this beach.

Attractions

A Dance festival is held at this place during the month of January and February by the Department of Tourism of Tamil Nadu, which is attended by thousands of tourists from around the country. The event lasts over a month where both classical and folk dance performances are performed against the stunning backdrop of the Pallava rock sculptures. Some other attractions of this place are as follows.

Dakshinachitra- It is a heritage center where traditional crafts are displayed from different parts of the south Indian states. Cultural programs are also performed by the folk artists at this place.

Five Rathas- Five Rathas are the five monolithic temples that have been structured in different styles from the other and are known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas. Among these, four of the temples are built out of a large single rock. 

Tiger's Cave- The caves are located at a close distance from the beach, which hold a tranquil and calm atmosphere, making it a perfect place to relax.  

Shore Temple- The temple, which dates back to the early 8^th century, is considered as one of the oldest temples in south India. It is a perfect example of the Dravidian style of architecture.

Arjuna's Penance-One of the world’s biggest bas-relief creation that measures to a height of about 27m and 9m in width is one of the top attractions of Mahabalipuram. The structure is in a shape of a whale where figures of Gods, Demigods, birds and beasts can be seen. In fact, the structure is believed to represent the entire creation of the almighty.

Accommodation

The place has a considerable number of hotels and resorts that range from budget to luxury class. The hotels and resorts are equipped with almost all the modern amenities to make your staying a comfortable one.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the Mahabalipuram beach is between the months of October to March.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to this place is Chennai International Airport, located at a distance of about 58 km. As the airport holds both domestic and international terminus, it is well connected with several major cities within the country along with the other cities around the world. 

By Road: Mahabalipuram has a very good network of roads that connects the place by regular bus services from places like Kanchipuram (66 km), Chengalpattu (29 km), Pondicherry (100 km) and Chennai (58 km). Tourists can also opt to hire a taxi from Chennai. 

BY Train: The closest train stations to this place are Chengalpattu (29 km) and Chennai (58 km). Both taxi and bus services are available from these stations to Mahabalipuram.