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Latest Mamallapuram hotel reviews
Pro
Magnificent rock cut Templs&beach!!
Con
Hawkers
In a nutshell
Worth seeing as a day trip.
Willettsworld Says: This temple, also known as Thirukadalmallai, is the main temple in the village with two major shrines for Lord Talasayana Perumai and Nilamangai Thayaar. This is the avatrasthalam (Birthplace) of Bhoothathazhwar, the 2nd Azhwar. There is also a separate shrine for Lord...
Willettsworld Says: This hall is just down the road from the Arjuna's Penance and has a large bas relief measuring 27m X 9m. Episodes from the life of Lord Krishna are depicted on the walls of the mandapam. It includes the scenes of the child Krishna holding aloft the Govardhana hill to protect...
Willettsworld Says: Arjuna's Penance or Bhagiratha's Penance is the name of a massive open air bas-relief monolith dating from the 7th century located opposite the Talasayana Perumai Temple. Measuring 96 feet long by 43 feet high, the bas-relief is also known as The Descent of Ganga. It...
Willettsworld Says: This cave temple (dating from between 630-660 AD) honours the Hindu trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - with a separate section dedicated to each deity. The shrines are guarded by statues of graceful doorkeepers.
Willettsworld Says: This is a favourite photo opportunity among visitors and also a test to see just how strong you are as this huge naturally found boulder is precariously balanced on a slope. See if you can roll it off!
Willettsworld Says: This temple is a small monolithic rock-cut temple with a mandapam (hall) dating from the 7th century. Inside, the side walls have large sculptured panels depicting Vishnu as Varaha, the boar, holding up Bhudevi, the earth goddess, which are good examples of naturalistic...
Willettsworld Says: Originally dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is now dedicated to Lord Ganesh. The two-storeyed rectangular shrine is attributed to belong to Parameshvara Varman I (r. 669-90). The temple features beautifully carved inscriptions listing the royal titles of Parameshvara...
Willettsworld Says: This hall lies just to the north of the lighthouse and was originally a rock-cut triple celled Shiva temple with pillared mantapa in front. It later got converted into a hall and dates from AD 640-674.
Willettsworld Says: This lighthouse, built in 1900, can be found along the main track through the rocky outcrop and gives some great views over the other rock temples, caves, village and to the Shore Temple, which you can just make out.
Willettsworld Says: This hall can be found on the southern end of the rocky outcrop. The hall displays scenes from the Puranas (Sanskrit stories dating from the 5th century AD) with the sculpture of the goddess Durga on her lion mount considered one of the best.
Willettsworld Says: This 7th century complex of monolithic rock-cut shrines called the Five Rathas (processional temple chariots) can be found in the south of the village. They were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. Each temple is a monolith, carved...
Willettsworld Says: This museum is located near the bus stand and exhibits sculptures and fragments excavated from the area as well as over 3,000 sculptures from local artisans who work with stone, wood, metal and even cement.Open: 9am-5.30pm.
Willettsworld Says: This statue is dedicated to the great poet Thiruvalluvar, author of the Thirukkural - Tamil verses and stands near the Shore Temple. There's a huge 133 ft (40.5m) statue to him on a small island off the coast of India's southern-most point at Kanyakumari, which I visited so...
Willettsworld Says: The Shore Temple was built around 700-728 AD during the Pallava dynasty in the reign of It was built by Narasimhavarman II and is so named because it overlooks the Bay of Bengal, having been built on a promontory that now features a protective high wall. It is a structural...
1 Review and 252 Opinions Temple Bay is just about the best place I’ve stayed, ever, anywhere. Granted, I don’t usually...
1 Review and 125 Opinions Stayed there for 2 days in August. I have to say it's a nice place worth spending time and...
SUNRISE RESTAURANT & GUEST HOUSE: THE BEST SEA FOOD IN THE TOWN!!!
premluders Says: Hello, we spent a lovely three weeks at Sunrise in 2006 and it looks as if it has become EVEN better than when we were there.We didn't plan to stay long in Mamallapurum (we had been travelling in India for months and were used to moving on fairly quickly) but the amazing...
Le Ritz Restaurant: Fabulous food !
K1w1wanderer Says: I've been to Mamallapuram a number of times and find myself contantly drawn back to Le Ritz. The restaurant is at the back of the building and offers a quiet location, a choice of inside or courtyard dining and a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The menu includes a good...
Willettsworld Says: This place has a Gallic flavour about it as it's owned by a Frenchman so there's lots of crepes for desert on the menu. The menu also includes a lot of seafood such as big prawns (Rs260) and tiger prawns (Rs370), steaks (Rs160) plus the usual Indian fair. Food took a while...
Motorcycle/Enfield Bullet rentals
Keeganlee Says: For Bullet rentals (350cc) contact Ganesh in Mamallapuram at 9384066777. He'll willingly rent out bikes for months at a time without any limits on where you may want to take the bike in India. I've rented bikes from him for years and if there's ever any problem he gladly...
Willettsworld Says: On the way to the Five Rathas, you'll pass by dozens of sculptors chiselling away from dawn through to dusk. Mamallapuram's historical reputation for skilled carvers lies in the evidence in their small yards to you to see. They are frequently commissioned to create...
More than one year after Tsunami
bradbeaman Says: Here is a fishing village at Mamallapuram one year after the Tsunami. Before the Tsunami they lived on the other side of the trees on the beach. They are in temporary shelter one year later. You will see these temporary shelter villages along the coast.
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Plan a Mamallapuram vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Mamallapuram locals
Here is a fishing village at Mamallapuram one year after the Tsunami. Before the Tsunami they lived on the other side of the trees on the beach. They are in...
3 members live in Mamallapuram
Q: Hi friends has anybody been in Mahabalipuram in September Oktober 2008 sombody said the water on the beach is comming very high...
A: Probably the southwest monsoon. I have the same happen in Sri Lanka during monsoon season.
Read 6 Replies
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So many mixed feelings after the Tsunami
Mahabalipuram, or Mamallapuram, was the chief seaport of the Pallavas who ruled over much of South India from as early as the first century B.C to the eighth century A.D., and it is now recognized as...
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In this page, I will start with introduction of the place/cave/temple and will follow with few tips based on my own impressions for that specific location. All my India pages will be having the same...
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Mahabalipuram or now called Mamallapuram is one of old port of the ancient Pallava dynasty(5th and 8th centuries).Its small coastel town,59km from Madras. Most of the monumnets are either rock cut or...
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Also known as 'The Descent of the Ganges' and as 'Bhagiratha's Penance,' this 12x30 meter rock carving is said to be the largest bas relief in the world. It is worth several visits and hours of visual...
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I've got some interesting experiences in Mamallapuram. I'd love to share with you the 6 tips I've written, the 7 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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