Location

: 58-Km From Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Also Known As

: Mamallapuram, The City Of Bali

Famous For

: Centre For Pallava Culture And Arts

Important Festivals Celebrated

: Dance Festival In The Month Of December

Tour Packages of Mahabalipuram | Hotels in Mahabalipuram

How to Get There

Nearest Airport: Chennai Airport (58 km).

Nearest Railway Station: Chengalpattu Railway Station (29 km) and Chennai Railway station (58 km).

By Road: Mahabalipuram is well connected through all the major cities and buses are available daily from Pondicherry, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and
Chennai to Mahabalipuram.

About

Mahabalipuram

in

Tamil

Nadu

The name of Mahabalipuram is derived from a Tamil word Mamallapuram. Mahabalipuram can literally meant as the city of great wrestler as the Mahabalipuram means
the
city
of
maha
bali
(powerful).
This
historic
town
is
situated
in
Kancheepuram
district
of
South
Indian
state
Tamilnadu.

History

of

Mahabalipuram

The Mahabalipuram History is two thousand years old. It was the port city of South Indian dynasty of Pallavas during 7th century. The Pallavas ruled Mahabalipuram
from 3rd century to 9th century. Located 60 km south of Chennai this town is enriched with a number of heritage monuments. These historic monuments were
constructed during the 7th and 9th centuries, and have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. During the early 18th century Mahabalipuram grew as the
pilgrimage center, now a days it has become the favorite place of tourists where they get relaxation and enjoy sea bathing. At a nearby place from here it has an
atomic
plant.

Temples

In

Mahabalipuram

There are total 11 excavated temples in Mahabalipuram, called Mandapas, two open air bas reliefs, out of which one is incomplete. But the most famous Mahabalipuram
temple, built from a rock is cut out temple, it is also known as Ratha.

The

Shore

Temple

The name Shore temple is so named because of its unique location as it overlooks Bay of Bengal. This temple
is an architectural masterpiece, made of granite blocks during 8th century AD. It is a five-storeyed temple with
pyramidal
structure
of
60
feet
height.

The

Shrines

in

Shore

Temple

The temple has three shrines. The main shrine and the smaller second is dedicated to Hindu Lord Shiva and the
third
small
shrine
is
dedicated
to
Hindu
Lord
Vishnu.

Sthalasayana

Perumal

Temple

Sthalasayana Perumal Temple is another important Mahabalipuram temple, which is counted amongst one of the 108 Divya Desam. It is a small temple, adorned with
two major shrines of Lord Sthalasayana Perumal and Nilamangai Thayaar. The temple also has another separate shrine of Lord Narsimha that reflects the Pallava style
of architecture. Maasi Makham and Boothatalwar's Avathara utsavam are the important festivals of the temple.

The

Depictions

Of

Arjuna's

Penance

Arjuna's Penance is one of the largest bas reliefs in the world, carved during mid 7th century. It is also renowned
as The Descent of Ganga. Standing at the height of 43 feet this massive structure is carved on the two
adjoining
monolithic
rocks.
The
total
length
of
Arjuna's
Penance
is
around
96
feet.
As per its name Arjuna's Penance this wonderful Mahabalipuram temple is also considered to be an illustration of
Mahabharata, when Arjuna (one of the five Pandavas) rigorously worshiped to achieve Lord Shiva's weapon to
destroy enemies. While according to another legend the temple also depicts the instance of Bhagiratha, who did
penance
to
bring
holy
river
Ganga
down
to
earth
from
heaven.

Figures

at

Arjuna's

Penance

One of the notable figures of the temple is the figure of cat, that narrates the story of Panchtantra. Besides the figures of male and female snakes (Nagas), an artificial
waterfall, four-armed deity of Lord Shiva, group of dwarfs (guards and followers of Lord Shiva) are pretty fascinating.

The

Five

Rathas

(Pancha

Rathas)

The Puncha Rathas is one of the best examples of monolith Indian rock cut architecture, dates back to the late
7th century. These five rathas were constructed during the dynasty of King Mahendravarman I and his son
Narsimhavarman
I.
These five rathas shrine is named after the five Pandavas -Yudhishtir (Dharmaraja), Bheem, Arjun, Nakul and
Sahedeva). The largest one of these is the ratha of Yudhishtir, then towards north are the rathas of Bheem, Arjun,
Nakul and Sahedeva in order of descending heights. Each temple is carved beautifully with pink granite,
outcropped of a rock. These shrines represent the glimpse of rich Dravidian architecture. The roofs of four of the
shrines
are
in
pyramidal
shapes.

Mahishamardhani

and

the

Adivaraha

Mandapas

The exquisite carved rock temples in Mahabalipuram are called as 'Mandapas'. Out of these the two best Mandapas are of Mahishamardhani and the Adivaraha. These
Mandapas are connected each other through a common scriptural source. On the walls of the Mandapa the excellent sculptures of Goddess Durga killing the devil and
the
Lord
Vishnu
in
His
cosmic
sleep
mesmerize
everyone.
Set amidst atop of a hill the Mahishamardhani temple is carved out of a rock. It has three shrines, out of which a small mandapa can be projected forward from a
central shrine. The Adivaraha mandapa has two groups of royal sculptures facing each other. One is of a king seated with his two queens, while the other sculpture is of
a standing king with his two wives standing beside him.

Fair & Festival at Mahabalipuram Temple

Open

Air

Dance

Festival

Open air dance festival is an annual celebration of Mahabalipuram temple, which is celebrated for a week. It is internationally famous as Mahabalipuram
Dance Festival, organized by the Government of Tamilnadu. The festival starts from 25th December every year and conducted on all Saturdays and
Government
holidays
upto
the
first
week
of
February.
It is celebrated with the great gusto right beside the Arjunas Penance, before an open air stage, hence it's called Open Air Dance festival. In the festival
you may enjoy the famous Indian dance forms such as Bharat Natyam, Kathakali, Odisi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and Kathak, performed by the skilled
Backwater
Tour
Package

03
Nights
/
04Days