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Facts And Figures
- Area: 105.60 sq km
- Altitude: 43.2 m above sea level
- Languages: Tamil, English
- STD Code: 04114
Location
Situated, about 60 kms away from the coast of Chennai across the Bay of Bengal, the beautiful city of Mamallapuram stretches between latitude 12°37' in the North to longitude 80°14' in the East. One of the most influential cities of Tamil Nadu today, a tour to Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram as it is more popularly known is a definite must-have in your tour itinerary of Tamil Nadu.
Best Time To Visit
Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram as it is also known is famous for its hot summers and mild winters. The summer temperature is known to rise to as high as 35°C and a minimum of 19°C. Thus, the best time to visit Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is during the months of October to march when the weather remains enticingly pleasant.
History
Once, one of the busiest ports of the Pallava dynasty, the beautiful city of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram has puzzled countless social historians on the puzzle of its origin. Though a number of architectural remain allow experts to contemplate on the origin of this beautiful city, yet the mystery surrounding the birth of the city of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram grows with time.
Tourist Attractions
The major tourist attractions of Mamallapuram include:
- Shore Temple
Carved out of a single piece of stone, this temple has a history that dates back to as early as 1400 years back.
- Pancha Pandava Rathas
5 exquisitely sculptured carriages which date back to the 7th century signify homage to the 5 Pandava brothers and form one of the leading tourist attractions of Mahabalipuram.
- Arjuna's Penance
The world’s largest bas-relief, this beautifully carved tourist attraction of Mahabalipuram contains within itself a number of mythological references that are allusions some of the greatest Indian texts such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
- Varaha Cave
A rock cut hall which serves as a mandapa or hall; this is one of the most important tourist attractions of Mahabalipuram and a must-visit while on a tour to Mamallapuram.
The other places of tourist interest include:
- Mahishamardini Cave
- Krishna's Butterball
Places Around Mamallapuram
The important places of tourist interest located around Mamallapuram are:
- Tiger Caves
Located around 5 kms away from Mahabalipuram, this is one of the leading places of tourist interest in Tamil Nadu, possessing as it does an ancient rock-cut cave which dates back to the 7th century.
- Tirukkalikundram
Located around 14 kms away from Mahabalipuram, this is an important pilgrimage center of Tamil Nadu with a picturesque hill-top temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Muttukadu
Located around 21 kms away from Mahabalipuram, this is home to a resort which is excellent for water sports like boating, canoeing, kayaking, and windsurfing.
Fairs And Festivals
The festivals of Mamallapuram are varied and add an extra spark of life to the town’s daily lives. Notable among these are:
- Pongal
One of the most important festivals of Tamil Nadu, this is special not just in Mamallapuram but also in a number of other Tamilian cities.
- Mahabalipuram Dance Festival
Celebrated during the months of January and February each year, the Mahabalipuram Dance Festival is an occasion when artists from all around India come to this historic city of Mahabalipuram to perform and mesmerize the people of the city with their talents.
Besides these the other important festivals of Mamallapuram are the Sthalasayana Perumal temple festivals, Masimagam and Brahmothsavam, which, are held in the month of March.
Where To Stay
One of the most important tourist destinations of Tamil Nadu, the beautiful city of Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram as it is also known is home to a number of hotels and tourist homes, all of which are targeted to provide the guests to the city with all the comfort and warmth they require.
How To Reach
- By Air
Chennai is the nearest airport to Mamallapuram well-connected to a number of international destinations as well as to almost all the major cities of India.
- By Rail
Mamallapuram is well-connected to a number of neighboring cities via two important rail heads which are Chengalpattu (29-km) and Chennai (58-km). The Railway Station closest to Mamallapuram is Chengalpattu, is around 29 km away from the main city of Mahabalipuram. The station links Mamallapuram to a number of important cities of Tamil Nadu like Chennai
- By Road
Mamallapuram is connected to a number of neighboring cities by an excellent network of railways which connect this ancient port-city to Madras, Thirukkalikundram, also known as Pakshithirtham, Kanchipuram and Pondicherry via Chingleput.
Tourism of India.com offers online information on Tour to Mamallapuram and other tourist attractions of India.
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