Home to pristine beaches and beautiful monuments, Mahabalipuram lies 60 kilometre south of Chennai. The Shore temple, which looks absolutely mesmerizing when lit by moonlight is one of the major attractions here.UNESCO declared the group of monuments at Mahabalipuram a World Heritage Site in 1984. With a history going back to the 7th century, Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, served as a port city for the Pallava empire. Dating to the 7th and the 9th centuries, most of the monuments here are rock-cut and monolithic, representing the nascent stages of Dravidian architecture and many Buddhist elements can be clearly seen in the design of the temples. The majestic Mahabalipuram, invokes a certain mystery, with its sculptural extravaganza depicting strong artistic temperament of the Pallavas who were the pioneers in south Indian art.A getaway to Mahabalipuram is a pleasant and relaxing experience from the months of October to March. Mahabalipuram is a blessed combination of rich history and good beaches. The Varaha Cave, another major attraction, is one of the many rock-cut caves in Mahabalipuram while the Krishna Mandapam has a bas-relief of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill on his fingertips.
Located around 65 kilometres from Mahabalipuram, the city is known as the ‘Golden Town of a Thousand Temples’. However, its real claim to fame is as the birth place of the famous Kanjeevaram sarees, which are some of India's finest silk saris.
The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is also the fourth largest city of India, and one of its most important cities - culturally, commercially and financially. It is also one of the only metropolitan centres that has not moved too far away from its traditional self.
