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Only 58 km from Chennai, the coastal town of
Mahabalipuram or Mammalapuram is a must-visit destination if you are in south India. Lying along the pretty Coromandel Coast, Mammalapuram is known
primarily for its ancient rock-cut temples. The eight Rath Temples date back to the 8th
century and have been carved out of monoliths. Each one is associated with one of the
Pandava brothers, heroes of the epic Mahabharata. Close to these are the two-spired Shore
Temple, the Krishna Mandapam- the world’s largest bas-relief with detailed carvings
of gods, animals, insects, and birds- and eight rock-cut caves decorated with depictions
of scenes from various legends. |
The temples are all very well; a good way to while away the
time between hours when you’re sunbathing, swimming, or simply lolling on the beach.
But what really matters to beach buffs is the sand and the sea, and both are good here.
Spend your day lazing on the beach, or go for a leisurely swim, followed by a satisfying
lunch of freshly caught fish- you can’t go far wrong here.
About 20 km north of Mammalapuram is the beach of Covelong,
a fishing village which is not as touristy as Mammalapuram, but is great if you want to
get away from the crowds. Covelong Beach is good, and there are facilities for water
sports such as windsurfing.
At about the same distance from Mammalapuram is Muttukadu,
a water sports complex which offers a range of sports, including boating, kayaking and
windsurfing.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit this pleasant seaside temple town is in the winter, between
November and February. And within this period too, mid-January and mid-February are when
Mammalapuram’s at its best. The weather’s great, the sand’s nice and warm,
the sea’s deliciously cool, and there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy yourself.
This is also the time when the annual Mammalapuram Dance Festival is held; exponents of
Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Kathakali perform on weekends through the month.
Access
Mammalapuram is fairly well connected to the rest of the state of Tamil Nadu. The closest
airport is at Chennai, which is 58km from Mahabalipuram. The road is good and you can rent
a car and be driven along the coast – it’s a pleasant and pretty drive.
The nearest railway station is at Chengalpattu.
Mahabalipuram is well connected with the rest of the state.
Buses from Chennai, Pondicherry and Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram are frequent.
Accommodation
A wide range of accommodation facilities is available in Mammalapuram, including an
ITDC-owned beach resort and a state-run complex. There are, in addition to these, a number
of privately owned beach resorts, guesthouses and economy hotels- virtually any degree of
comfort to fit almost any budget. Prices range between Rs 200-500 for basic accommodation
to Rs 1,100 and above for more luxurious rooms.
For more information on Mammalapuram, contact the Tamilnadu
Government Tourist Office, Tourism Complex, I Floor, Wallajah Road, Chennai - 600 002
(Tel : 044 -25368358) or any of the ITDC or TTDC offices in India.
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