Mahabalipuram is a small coastal town in the state of Tamil Nadu known for its rich stone carved monuments, temples and alluring beaches. It has some of the historical masterpieces of the country and highlights scrumptious sea food, water activities, evening sightseeing and an overall holistic experience for visitors from across the world. The beautiful town is also called Mammallapuram, and is one among the many attractive tourist destinations in India. Doesn’t the thought excite you about how it would be to experience all of this for real? You can make a smart plan for a trip to the marvelous town in South India. All you need to know is the things to do in Mahabalipuram and we are here to give you detailed information. Even if you have booked business class flights for the conference in Chennai, spare some time to soak in the beauty of Mahabalipuram.
Explore the awe-striking Arjuna’s Penance
Inscribed brilliantly in just two monolithic rocks, Arjuna’s Penance is one of the marvelous ancient artworks in the country. The amazing tourist attraction in Mahabalipuram depicts the penance performed by Arjuna with an intention to please Lord Shiva to have his divine weapon. You will find sharp and clear rock carvings highlighting the era of Hindu mythology with human and animal figures along with Gods in form of sculptures. Situated in the center of the town, it is a 43 feet high artwork of around 100ft in length. Its abundant beauty and charisma made it a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Feel refreshed at the beaches
Being a coastal town, it is the beaches in Mahabalipuram that attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year. The long 20 kilometers stretch of coastline offers two alluring beaches Pallava Beach and Mahabalipuram beach that will bring immense peace revitalizing your body, mind and soul. You can bask under the sun by the sandy shore, sipping in the refreshing coconut water. In the evening, take a stroll at the beach with your family or friends admiring the scenic beauty of the place. If you are that I-love-adventure kind of traveller, get your share of adrenaline rush with enthralling water activities at the beach such as kite surfing, surfing, boat rides, wind surfing, quad bike rides, etc. Want to plan a trip to the coastal town? Don’t worry about the bookings as you can now buy last minute flight tickets at reasonable price.
Get amazed by the largest collection of seashells
Known as the biggest seashell museum in India, you will have a superb opportunity of gaining knowledge about the splendid marine life of the world on visiting India Seashell Museum. The museum exhibits 40,000 kinds of unique and rare shells, a broad collection of shark teeth, fossils and whale fins. Stretched to an area of 2 acres, has a large boutique named Maya Bazaar, offering a varied range of items designed of seashells and pearls. Do not forget to purchase the most famous item – conch. If you love to wear accessories, the well-crafted pearl jewelry will be a definite pick for you. Amid the excitement of seeing the varieties of seashells in the museum, do not skip on the delicious dessert and sea food at the nearby restaurant. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular places to see in Mahabalipuram. The entry fee for the museum is 100INR per person with an add-on charge of 50INR for the souvenir shop and aquarium. If you want to capture images of the artifacts, pay for the combo ticket that includes 100INR for cameras.
Go spellbound by Krishna’s butterball
Heard about ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not’? Well, we have something really intriguing they could feature in their show. Mahabalipuran preserves the gigantic Krishna’s Butterball, a granite boulder balancing itself on a slope, not since hundreds but thousands of years. There have been efforts made to role the rock down the slope but all attempts went in vain. The 16ft high rock was tried to move with help of seven elephants, but it dared not move an inch. Now, visiting this place is definitely one of the best things to do in Mahabalipuram.
Unveil the beauty of the Shore Temple
The magnificent architecture of the Shore Temple captivates a visitor with the picturesque contrast with the clear blue sky. Located on the coast of Bay of Bengal, the temple got its name for the close proximity to the sea shore. However, the real name of the granite build art piece is still unknown. On hiring a travel guide in Mahabalipuram, you will come across some fascinating facts about the temple like it is the only shrine of the once existing complex of seven shrines to survive the Tsunami. You will find three sanctums in the temple – two dedicated to Lord Shiva and one is for Lord Vishnu. These are some of the great examples of amazing single rock structures making it an important place to see in Mahabalipuram.
Mahabalipuram is a beautiful coastal town a traveler must visit once in a lifetime. Are you already planning a trip? Ensure you do not skip on any of these things to do in Mahabalipuram.
