Mahabalipuram Beach is without doubt the best choice when you want to enjoy a fantastic and memorable holiday on the beaches in Tamil Nadu. The sprawling beach is extremely popular among the tourists as well as locals and one can see thousands of revelers enjoying and having a good time, especially on weekends.

Location

Mahabalipuram Beach, also known as Mamallapuram in local lingo, lies about 60 km from capital of the state Tamil Nadu. The beach provides a spectacular sight in the backdrop of the majestic Bay of Bengal, coupled with the splendid sculptures created out of rocks. The golden sand beach is one of the most picturesque sights you would ever see in the state, replete with shimmering sea that’s quite rough at times, and the gigantic hills.

What the Beach Offers to the Average Tourist

Tourists aver that the Mahabalipuram Beach is one of the most pristine beaches of Tamil Nadu and is an idle place for simply lazing around, taking a long walk or sunbathing. A word of caution though, the sea is rough and swimming may not be a safe activity here.

Do Not Miss These Important Places Around the Beach

There are some ancient historical monuments that are quite closely located to the beach and form a part of the itinerary of visitors. These include some of the oldest shore temples in South India that was built in the 8th century by Rajasimha, the Pallava King. Close to the beach is also the largest bas-relief of the world called the Penance of Arjuna which is 96 feet long and 43 feet high. There is also this imposing raths, all of five in number which along with the tiger's cave makes a visit to the beach all the more interesting.

Places of Historical Importance and Others

There are many other interesting places to visit around Mahabalipuram Beach. The Dakshinachitra is a heritage space that houses a number of exhibits of the local arts and crafts including traditional home architecture. You can see amazing works of the artists of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala in this place.

You must also not miss the famous crocodile farm which is home to around 5000 crocodiles of six different species. The farm also has alligators and other reptiles which are bred in captivity but kept in open, marshy enclosures. There is also a center for snake venom extraction and art and sculpture school that could be of immense interest to some sections of visitors.

How to Reach

By Bus

Mahabalipuram beach is approximately 57 km from Chennai city. There are buses available from the city at regular intervals. The beach is also easily reachable from Pondicherry (99 km) and Kanchipuram (68 km).

By Rail

The nearest railway stations from Mahabalipuram beach are Chengalpattu (29 km) and Chennai (58 km).

By Air

Chennai International Airport at 58 km is the nearest airport from Mahabalipuram beach.