Mahabalipuram Beach,
Mamallapuram
Mahabalipuram Beach is located in the old port town of
Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram on the shores of the Bay of Bengal,
has a coastline spanning a distance of over 20 km with beautiful beaches.
Located 58km from Chennai on the Mahabalipuram road, the golden sandy beach is
a picturesque place bounded by the shimmering sea & rolling hills.
Identified as the most pristine beaches of Tamil Nadu, the beach
attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year. The beach is an idle
place for sunbathing and lazing around. The sea is rough and swimming is not recommended.
Mahabalipuram beach also has some ancient historical monuments in
its close proximity and this is the main reason of attraction of this beach.
There is one of the oldest shore temples in South India built by the Pallava
King Rajasimha in the early 8th century and the world's largest bas-relief, the
'Penance of Arjuna', which is 96ft long
and 43 ft high, the five rathas and the tiger's cave along the beach.
On the way to Mahabalipuram Beach is DakshinaChitra, 28 km from
Chennai, a heritage space with exhibitions and workshops of the arts and crafts
including traditional home architecture and performing artists of Tamil Nadu,
Kerala and Karnataka.
Other places worth a visit while on a tour to the beach include
the crocodile farm where about 5000 crocodiles of 6 different species,
alligators and other reptiles are bred in captivity, kept in open, marshy
enclosures, snake venom extracting centre and a school of art and
sculpture.
Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu hosts a Dance
Festival annually at Mahabalipuram during Jan- Feb. The festival which lasts
for a month has exponents of classical dances like Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Kathakali as well as folk dances perform in an open air stage against the
magnificent backdrop of the Pallava rock sculptures.
Wide choices of accommodation for longer stays are provided at
various rates along the beach draw holiday seekers all round the year.
Accommodation is available at Hotel Tamil Nadu (Beach Resorts Complex), Hotel
Tamil Nadu II Camping Site and other beach resorts and lodges.
Mahabalipuram beach attracts a lot of travellers every year
especially for the natural Sun bathing in the beach. The beach gives an
opportunity to completely unwind from the weary and tiredness of the city life.
Windsurfers and Swimmers are seen hitting the shores of the beach playing with
the rising tide.
Mahabalipuram has a hot and humid climate, with summer
temperatures in late May and early June often reaching 38 degrees Celsius (100
degrees Fahrenheit). The town receives most of its rainfall during the northeast monsoon, from mid September to mid December, and heavy rains can be a
problem. The temperature decreases to an average of 25 degrees Celsius (75
Fahrenheit) during winter, from November to February, but doesn't drop below 20
degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). The best time to visit is from December until
March, when it's dry and cool.
For delicious food try the family run, airy rooftop Gecko Cafe or Buddha Cafe for a beer in the heart of Mahabalipuram's lively backpacker
district on the way to the Shore Temple. If you really want to relax and
unwind, indulge in one of the many natural therapies on offer around town.
To get around, hire a bicycle or a motorbike. It's also possible
to walk, as Mahabalipuram is not a large town. There isn't a wide range of
hotels to choose from, but there are hotels to suit all budgets from
inexpensive to luxury. The beach resorts are generally located to the north of the town center.
As always in India, where there are temples there are so called
guides offering to share their knowledge for a high fee. The ocean at
Mahabalipuram can have particularly strong currents, so care should be taken
when swimming. This is particularly the case to the right of the Shore Temple.
Connectivity
By Air:
Chennai 58-km away is the nearest airport with both domestic and
international terminus.
By Rail:
The nearest railway stations are Chengalpattu (29-km) and Chennai
(58-km). From these stations one has to take the roads to reach
Mahabalipuram.
By Road:
There are buses available from Pondicherry, Kanchipuram,
Chengalpattu and Chennai to Mahabalipuram regularly. The road to Mahabalipuram
is well connected to other major roads. Tourists can also hire a taxi from
Chennai to reach Mahabalipuram.