Mahabalipuram Guided Trip from Pondicherry

Experience the popular gateway near to Pondicherry, known for its picturesque beauty, heritage and culture on this guided tour to the most perennial favourite gateway, Mahabalipuram.

Highlights

• Visit the group of monuments of Mahabalipuram which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Explore some of the best stone carvings in the world and visit the Shore temple.
• Company of a knowledgeable guide and service of a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.
• Complimentary lunch during the tour.

Detailed overview

Mahabalipuram, the combination of lovely beach and single rock cut carvings, known more for its architecture; the monuments were carved by the Pallava Dynasty in 7th centuries, nearly 1400 years ago. The Rock-cut monuments are well preserved for the tourists to study the Cultural Heritage of India. History lovers will enjoy every inch of each stone at Mahabalipuram. A walk across the carvings will bring you the whole era on the stone to your vision. The difficulty level in the accuracy of architecture’s workmanship and the carvings on the solid stones will leave you stunned.

One of the oldest temples among the South Indian Temples has been listed in the World Heritage sites of the UNESCO. The temple is popular as it is at the seashore full of carvings inside. Mahabalipuram also has splendid places for tourists to stay in.

Itinerary

• The driver will receive you from your hotel or residence in Pondicherry at 9:00 AM.
• The guide cum host for the tour will meet you here and after a quick introduction, the tour will start.
• Start the drive from Pondicherry to Mahabalipuram which is almost 125 KM and it might take you 2 hours to reach Mahabalipuram.
• After reaching, you will be visiting the following places;
• Arjuna Penance: a 100 feet x 45 feet bas relief where an entire masterpiece from the Mahabharata epic has been carved.
• Krishna’s Butterball: a curious sight of a 5 meters diameter ball-shaped boulder which is perched precariously on a slope and seems to defy Newton’s laws of gravity!
• Have a short lunch break at a local's favourite place.
• Five Rathas: or the Pancha Rathas, 5 chariots will be our first destination. These are rock-cut monolith temples structures dedicated to Draupadi and the 5 Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata.
• Shore Temple: This 8th-century structural temple is made of granite and served as a beacon for seafarers of the time also it overlooks the shore of Bay of Bengal.
• After visiting all the places, you will start the drive back to Pondicherry and you will be dropped at your hotel to end the tour.