Mahabalipuram is a town situated on the coast of Bay of Bengal. It belongs to Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located only 60km from the Chennai city, hence it very easy to travel to this place. As it has various historic monuments, it has been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mahabalipuram has lots of cave temples, sculptures, and monolithic rathas. It’s actually known as an open air museum. So, if you love art, archeology and sculptures, Mahabalipuram is a place you would love to visit.

History of Mahabalipuram:
Mahabalipuram was a port city of the Pallavas, a South Indian dynasty, during the 7th century. Most of the cave temples, sculptures in Mahabalipuram were developed between the 7th and 9th century.

The Pallavas, who were very skilled, had sculpted a lot of temples, chariots. However, why this was done remains a mystery. Maybe it was a celebration, or a king’s love for art. The place reminds you of a culture which was rich in art. Factors such as weather, wars might have contributed to some of the incomplete sculptures and a lost civilization.

What to Look out for?
Mahabalipuram, as it located on the beach, has a very scenic view. Some of the sculptures, temples are carved out from a single stone. When you visit Mahabalipuram, you would be reminded of a rich civilization which had a great inclination for art.

The Shore Temple:
The shore temple of the Lord Vishnu is present in between the temples of Lord Shiva, is an architectural masterpiece. This temple has no religious activities now. However, you can go inside and observe the wonderful carvings on the stone. Watching this temple lit by the moonlight is truly mesmerizing.

Rathas:
There are 5 Ratha (meaning chariots) temples in Mahabalipuram. These temples, which resemble a chariot, are made of rock. The carving of these rathas is very artistic, with a lot of attention to detail. Each of these ratha temples was carved out from a single rock.

There are a number of handicrafts, small sculptures available at very reasonable prices. As you travel to this place, you can find a number of beaches. Some of them are also isolated. However, getting down and venturing into these beaches might be dangerous as the waves can reach great heights.

Because of the increased tourist attractions, a number of resorts have come up in Mahabalipuram. The nearest airport is in Chennai. The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu. Mahabalipuram also has a good road network. So, if you are keen on experiencing mystery and fun, do visit Mahabalipuram.