Sightseeing
Mahabalipuram with its picturesque location on a rocky outcrop
between the beach and a lagoon is a happy combination of
history, good beaches, hassle-free tourism and fabulous
fish and lobster! Despite the many visitors, drawn by the
former Pallava dynasty town, the place is friendly, relaxed,
and the villagers are remarkably unperturbed by their crowds
of visitors. Mahabalipuram is renowned for its series of
charming rathas and the spectacular carved relief depicting
Arjuna's Penance. The magnificent Shore Temple,
built by king Rajasimha in the seventh century, is a unique
temple that houses the shrines of both Shiva and Vishnu
while the Varaha Cave is a rock-cut mandapam with
two incarnations of Vishnu-Varaha and Vamana-besides scenes
of kings and queens. The Krishna Mandapam has a bas-relief
of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill in his fingertips.
Other important attractions of Mahabalipuram include the
Mahishasuramardini Cave, Kotikal Mandapam, Ramanuja Mandapam,
and the Dharmaraja Cave.
Excursions
Mahabalipuram is a part of the Golden Triangle circuit of
South India along with Chennai and Kanchipuram. As such,
it is generally visited in combination with these two places.
Kanchipuram (65 km) is the synonym for some of India's
finest silk saris. This dusty, small town, popularly called
the Golden Town of a Thousand Temples, is renowned for the
Kamakshi, Varadarajaswami, and Kailasanathar temples, all
more than worthy of a visit. And about the Kanchi weavers,
any ode would fall short! Vedanthangal is the site
of a bird sanctuary, one of India's largest, while Covelong
is famous for its golden beach and other historical monuments.
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