Group of monuments at Mahabalipuram were build during the Pallava dynasty between the 6th – 7 the century and it’s a UNESCO World heritage site . Here in the rock cut relief the stories of Mahabharta , shivapuran , vishnupuran and Shaaktha are described . This are the Hindu mythological stories . Among all the relifes the Arjun’s penance where arjun accepts the Pashupateya Astra from lord shiva also shown . Except this there is numerious chariot temples , museum , a magic ball called “krishna’s butter ball ” , Jain Temple and the sea beach are important places to visit near Mahabalipuram . This is a small city situated 60 km from chennai mainly popular for tourism .
I visited the city in November 2020 . At that time there was a cyclone passed just 1-2 days before . For the cyclore most of the temple’s were closed and I take the picture from outside of the gate. Around most of the temple , has a outside raling and you can have a outside look free of cost . Among the most of the places to visit near Mahabalipuram my favourite is Arjun’s Penance and Shore temple (this temple is just beside the sea beach of Bay of Bengal).
how to go to mahabalipuram from chennai?
Mahabalipram can be reached only by the road transport from chennai , kanchipuram or Pondecherry . From Chennai CMBT and other bus stand of chennai bus leaves for the Mahabalipuram but this buses are less . Better option will be to take a bus from chennai towards Pondecherry and get down in Chengalpattu and this buses run 24 hours and very frequent . Chengalpattu is 60 km from chennai . From there I take a local bus and it will drop you to the Mahabalipuram town . This distance is almost 27 km but when you return to chennai they will take the sea side road toward chennai . This road is very scenic .
Nearest Raiway station to Mahabalipram is Chengalpattu and nearby airport is Chennai Internatioonal Airport . You can take a taxi to reach this place but if you are alone then it will be expensive but for a group it is ok .
places to visit near Mahabalipuram :
shore temple:
Shore temple is one of the oldest temple in whole sothern India established by the pallava dynasty king Narasimhavarman 2 in between 700-728 AD . This east facing temple is made of granite . It has been declared UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984 .
This temple has two shiva and one Vishnu idol . The temple is surrounded by the sculptures of bulls (nandi) . It is believed that this is only the last remained pagoda of seven pagodas . Rest are submerged in the sea .
The temple opens from 6 am to 6 pm .
Five Raths or pancha raths :
These sculptures are the oldest in the Mahabalipuram and made in the time of Narasimhavarman 1 . This whole structure has been cut from a single rock which is the real wonder . This structures are dedicated topandavs according to circular clock wise starting from Drapaudi(the lion -symbol of durga ) next the small hut symbolise for Arjun(may be dedicated to lord shiva ), next one is the largest for Bhim(possible meant to vishnu or shiva ) , The next one is the tallest for Dharmaraj Yudisthir (dedicated to lord shiva ) and the Last one is Elephant for nakull and Sahadeb (dedicated to Indra) .
Arjun ,bhim , Yudisthir Yudisthir , nakul and sahadeb are panchapandava of Mahabharata . Draupadi is their wife .
Krishna’s Butter ball :
It is a real mystery of this region . This is a 5 meter wide and 6 meter height granaite bolder just touching a small portion of the surface but for 1200 years it stand like that .It balance the gravity . I think it might be much older but during the pallava dynasty it comes to human notice .
It is not a man-made structure but it is a naturally formed rock . Scientist belive that weathering may make this structure but still it is a unsolved mystery .
Seven time human effort including the pallava dynasty and in the colonial British raj to move this bolder , but it was unsuccessful. From Hindu mythological character krishna it was named krishna’s butterball . As Sri krishna in his childhood stolen butter ball and eat it .
It was opened from 6 am to 6 pm and the entry fees is rs 40 INR .
arjuna’s penance :
Arjun’s penance is a rock relief on two borders where the combine length is 96 feet and height is 43 feet .
In this relief there are mainly two stories , In first one where Arjun worships lord shiva to get Pashupatestra and in another relief King Bhagirath pray for the holy river Ganga to be flow on earth.
In this relief there were different animals like monkey , elephant , cat and deer . Different devatas , apsaras and hermit and many more . This is one of the detailed, beautiful reliefs in India and made during the Pallava dynasty of 7 the century.
Tirukadumallai :
Tirukadumalli temple is also known as Sthalasayana Perumal(is a form of lord vishnuu ) Temple . according to the tamil text it was build in the 3 rd century by pallvas but historian belive that in was build in the time of cholas in 11th century .
In this temple lord Perumal is in the sleeping posture but not not above the seshnag and his consort Nilamangai Thayar(a form of devi laxmi) accompanied him . It is belived that lord perumal saved the city from the fury of sea . It is also one of the spiritual place in Tamil nadu . I personally reached the temple just after the closing time so I am unable to see it from Inside .
Seashell Museum :
This sea shell museum is a personal collection of Mr Raja Mohammad . For four decades he collected this shell from the different parts of India and abroad . This museum has 40000+ seashell collection from all together 50+ countries . This museum has three part sea shell museum , mamalla Fish World and Fishing Museum .
This museum was opened in the year 2013 and it is asia’s largest sea shell Mseum . It was opened by that time president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam .
The museum is open between 8 am to 8 pm . It is situated just to the opposite of the five ratha temple .
Shri Munisuvratswami Jain Navgraha Temple :
Shri Munisuvratswami Jain Navgraha Temple is a wonderful white marvel Jain temple dedicated to the 20 the Jain tirthankar . In the walls of the temple there was relief which describe jain stories . This temple is also associates with the nine celestial bodies of Hindu . For that reason in the name of the temple also the Navagraha(nine celestial ) are mentioned .
The curving in this temple are just wonderful . It is situated in a middle of a green land . There is no inhabitation near the temple .
This temple is situated in the coastal roads toward Chennai which is 10 km from the Mahabalipuram city .
See the local sculpture making :
In the city in lot’s of places you can see there are artists who make stone curved idol . They made idols of Hindu gods and godess. . If you want you can buy one of them . There are also smaller ones . Because this bigger one’s may be made for some temple .
Summary :
Mahabalipuram is a city which is full of monuments which were build mostly build between 7-8 the century under pallava dynasty . This monuments were inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage site . Among the monuments Arjun’s penance , five raths , shore temple are most prominent . You can reach Mahabalipuram only by road transport and there are plenty of Hotels in this city . As this city is mainly dependent on tourism and sculpture making . It is just 60 km from the chennai city . So coming here is very easy . The best time to visit the city are in the winter season when it is less hot .
