Guided tour of Mahabalipuram for an immersive cultural experience

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From $35.00

18 reviews   (5.00)

Price varies by group size

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Pricing Info: Per Person

Duration: 3 hours

Departs: Chennai, Chennai

Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance.

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Overview

Over 3 hours, this guided tour will teleport you to the 7th century into the times of the Pallavas with incredible rock cut monuments. This tour can be done by walk or in your vehicle. We can also arrange a tuk tuk or autorickshaw.
You will experience masterpieces from this world heritage site like the Pancha Rathas which are rock cut monolith temples, Arjuna's Penance the giant open air rock relief, the gravity defying Krishna's butterball and the Shore temple which is the last remaining of the 7 Pagodas mentioned by Marco Polo.
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What's Included

Professional guide

What's Not Included

Entrance charges

Traveler Information

  • INFANT: Age: 0 - 2
  • CHILD: Age: 3 - 12
  • ADULT: Age: 13 - 99

Additional Info

  • Gear/equipment sanitised between use
  • Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

What To Expect

Pancha Rathas
We reach the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. Panch Rathas, or the 5 chariots is our first destination. These are rock cut monolith structures, where of the chariots are dedicated to the lead cast of the Mahabharata epic- Draupadi, Arjuna, Nakul-Sahadeva, Bhima and Yudhister. There is also a sculpture of an elephant next to the ratha of Nakul-Sahadeva.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Pancha Pandava Cave
Pandava cave is the largest cave-temple at Mahabalipuram The cave is supported on six pillars and two pilasters. There are 3 spectacular sculptures of mythical creatures called Yali on the pillars.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Arjuna's Penance
We next visit Arjuna’s Penace, a bas-relief monument that’s considered one of India’s most magnificent pieces of ancient art, depicting vivid scenes from the Mahabharata. The relief is 100 feet long and 45 feet tall! The main story being told is how Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, performed severe austerities in order to obtain Lord Shiva's weapon.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Krishna's Butter Ball
The next stop is Krishna’s Butterball, a granite boulder that’s poised on a stony slope. This curious boulder seems to defy Newton's laws of gravity and has not moved an inch despite being in this precarious position on the slope for more than a thousand years.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Varaha Cave Temple
The Varaha cave is carved out of huge piece of granite and dates back to the 7th century. This temple took several decades to be completed. There are squatting lions adorning the pillars which support the hall. Another highlight are the sculptures of two guardian angels who protect the sanctum.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Trimurti Cave
This cave is a fine example of the spectacular architecture style of the Pallavas. The rock cut temple is dedicated to the holy trinity of Hindu Gods- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are fine carvings of elephants as well.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Ganesh Ratha Temple
This is a imposing chariot carved out of a single stone. Originally dedicated to Lord Shiva, it now has the deity of his son Lord Ganesh. It was built in the 7th century by King Mahendravarman I. The other highlight of this temple are the 18 inscriptions in ancient grantha and nagari scripts of Sanskrit.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Built in the year 640, it is India's oldest light house and one of the oldest in the world. Mahabalipuram was a very busy port since the 7th century and hence this lighthouse played a significant role in keeping mariners safe.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Shore Temple
Our last port of call is the Shore Temple. The magnificent temple overlooks the Bay of Bengal and was an important centre during the reign of the Pallavas when Mahabalipuram was the main port of their Kingdom. Built by King Raja Simha during the early 8th century, the Shore Temple is a landmark in the architectural landscape of India. Marco Polo referred to this as the seven pagodas. The existing temple is the last surviving of the 7 which once stood as a beacon for sea farers.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included


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