Mahabalipuram in a day - All you need to know 

Location:

- 60 kms from Chennai, TamilNadu

- 99 kms from Pondicherry

Whats famous here

- Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) – five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. Each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone.

- Thirukadalmallai, the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

- Descent of the Ganges or Bagiratha's Penance – a giant open-air rock relief

- Varaha Cave Temple – a small rock-cut temple dating back to the 7th century.

- The Shore Temple – a structural temple along the Bay of Bengal

- The Mahabalipuram Beach

History:

Mahabalipuram is an ancient historic town and was a bustling seaport during the time of Periplus (1st century CE) and Ptolemy (140 CE), from where ancient Indian traders sailed to countries of South East Asia

By the 7th century it was a port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas. It has a group of sanctuaries carved out of rock in the 7th and 8th centuries: rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air rock reliefs such as the famous Descent of the Ganges, and the Shore Temple, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What to look out for

- Street food along the beach side shops

- Lots of shops showcasing antiques, arts and crafts

- A reminder to get the tickets before entering the site

For tourists and foreigners

There are lot of luxury and decent resorts located near to this site

- 5 star: Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay

- 4 star: Grande Bay Resort and Spa, Chariot Beach Resort

- 3 star: Ideal Beach Resort, Golden Sun Hotel and Beach resort, Green coconut resort

- 2 star: Blue Bay Beach Resort, Mammalla Beach Resort

Some more pictures

Please do share your experience and views in the comments section

Cheers