Mamallapuram

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Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram is a tourist town 60 km south of Madras made famous by its stone carvings. The most famous monument is the Shore Temple: when lit by moonlight, it is one of the most beautiful locations in the region. The best time to visit is November to March.

Table of contents
	mamallapuram Travel Guide : 1 Get in 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Learn 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 10 Get out

Get in

Buses arrive in the centre of the town from Thiruvannmalai in Madras and Kanchipuram. You can also catch the bus from Pondicherry at Auroville. A taxi from Madras will cost upwards of Rs. 500-600. The drive from Madras on the East coast road is a wonderful experience.

Get around

It's easy to get around the town on foot, though bike rental is also available.

See

• Shore Temple. The temple is carved from a single piece of stone and has stood for more than 1400 years. Entry US $5 for foreigners (there is a lower price for Indians), also includes entry to the Pancha Pandava Rathas.

• Pancha Pandava Rathas - five "rathas", literally chariots, dating from the 7th century. The sculptures are complemented by some enormous stone animals, including a large elephant.

• Arjuna's Penance - a giant bas-relief filled with detailed carvings, including a family of elephants and monkeys. Nearby is Krishna Madapa, another bas-relief.

• Varaha Cave has four impressive carvings of Vishnu, Gakalakshmi, Trivikama and Durga.

• Mahishamardini Cave. The central carving is of Shiva and Parvati and Murugan

• Krishna's Butterball a giant natural rock perched on a hillside. It provides welcome shade if you dare to sit underneath it!

• The Sculpture Museum, East Raja Street has sculptures.

• Old and new light houses provide views across the area to the sea. There are several unfinished temples nearby, and the December 2004 tsunami exposed more previously submerged temples.

Do

• Bike trips around Tamil Nadu's countryside can be organized by travel agencies in the town.
• Chill on the sandy beach

Learn

• Stone carving Local sculptures in the main street leading to the see (after the Tina Shell View Lodge) teach stone carving. You will learn how to sculpt a simple locket, and the longer you'll stay, the more complicated things you'll be able to do. For a simple locket at least 5 hours are needed. For 100 Rs. a day you can learn/work as long as you like everyday (the result is yours of course).

Buy

• Stone sculptures made by local artists. You can see them on their work (and also learn it yourself, see #Learn). You can save a lot of money if you buy sculptures in small side roads and not in the main road.

Eat

• There are lots of food stands in the centre serving large portions for next-to-nothing prices

Drink

• Mamallapuram is famous for its coconut water.

Sleep

• Ishwarya Guest house approx Rs. 450 ($10).

Get out

• Crocodile bank at Vadanemmeli, 15 km on the road back to Chennai. You can feed the reptiles for a small fee.
• Pondicherry In fact, Mamallapuram is a good stopover if you are making a trip from Madras to Pondicherry by road.