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Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, is best known for the impressive series of temples, cave sanctuaries and open-air sculptures carved from rock by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. It sits only 39 feet (12 meters) above sea level, and while much of the town itself is rambling and chaotic, many of the beautiful temples, panoramic stone carvings, and other monuments are within walking distance of each other. Thankfully, after Mahabalipuram was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, preservation and renovation efforts began in earnest, thus protecting the remarkable, culturally distinct structures and buildings within the city.

EXPERIENCES

Shore Temples

Visit what is believed to be the practice area for the sculptors who worked on Mahabalipuram's main temples, then proceed to the Shore Temples of Mahabalipuram, which are Vishnu temples overlooking the Bay of Bengal.

Temple Bay GRT

Have dinner at Temple Bay GRT, a seaside property only minutes away from Mahabalipuram.

Temple Tour

Spend the day exploring the city's ancient religious sites. Receive a primer on Hinduism and its aesthetics at a massive outdoor bas-relief, which depicts Arjuna's Penance, in addition to other scenes from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Admire the beautifully detailed stone sculptures and the ornate, multi-tiered temples, which are all that remain of the once-powerful Pallavas.

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