Mahabalipuram

All monuments listed below are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site — Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. A single combined ASI ticket covers them all.

Entry fee: ₹600 (cash at counter), ₹550 (online pay). Entry is free for children below 15 years
Official Booking Site

Shore Temple

The oldest surviving freestanding stone temple in South India, built by Pallava king Narasimhavarman II in the early 8th century. Unlike the earlier rock-cut monuments in Mahabalipuram, the Shore Temple was constructed from dressed granite blocks — the first great structural temple of the Pallava dynasty. The complex contains three shrines — two dedicated to Lord Shiva and one to Lord Vishnu.

Timing: Open daily, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Included in combined ASI ticket
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Arjuna’s Penance

The largest open-air bas-relief in the world, carved on two adjacent natural granite boulders. The carving depicts over 100 figures — gods, humans, animals, nagas (serpents), and celestial beings — gathered around a natural fissure in the rock through which water once flowed, representing the Ganges descending to earth.

Timing: Open daily, 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: Included in combined ASI ticket
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Pancha Rathas

Five monolithic temples carved from single granite outcroppings at the southern end of Mahabalipuram, named after the five Pandava brothers and their wife Draupadi from the Mahabharata. Each ratha is carved in a different architectural style.

Timing: Open daily, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Included in combined ASI ticket
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Cave Mandapas

A series of rock-cut cave temples — Varaha Cave Mandapa, Mahishasuramardini Cave Mandapa, and Trimurti Cave Mandapa — scattered across the Mahabalipuram hill, each excavated into the living granite. The caves are reached by a short uphill walk.

Timing: Open daily, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Included in combined ASI ticket
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Krishna’s Butter Ball

A natural granite boulder, weighing an estimated 250 tonnes, balanced on a small base on a smooth sloping rock surface. The boulder has remained in place for an estimated 1,200 years. Several attempts to move it — including by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I and in the 20th century by an elephant team hired by the local administration — have failed.

Timing: Open daily, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Included in combined ASI ticket
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Olakkanesvara Temple

A structural temple on the summit of the Mahabalipuram hill, built by the Pallava king Rajasimha in the 8th century. The temple was used as a lighthouse by the British administration, with a light placed in the upper storey to guide ships.

Timing: Open daily, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Included in combined ASI ticket
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Stone Carving Workshops

The beach running alongside the monument area and the streets of the town contain a dense concentration of stone carving workshops — the living continuation of the same craft tradition that produced the Pallava monuments. Artisans from the Sthapati community work in open workshops producing granite sculptures of Hindu deities.

Timing: Workshops open daily, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Metro in Mahabalipuram

Not available.

Local buses in Mahabalipuram

Not practical. City buses run across Mahabalipuram but routes are difficult to navigate without local knowledge.

Ride-hailing apps in Mahabalipuram

Partially practical. Ride hailing apps like Ola and Uber availability is limited to outstation travel. Select the vehicle type and book through the app; fares are shown upfront before confirmation. Drivers may call to confirm the pickup point. Before getting in, verify the vehicle number and OTP shown in the app. Payment can be made by card through the app or in cash directly to the driver at the end of the trip.

Walking and Cycle Rental in Mahabalipuram

Practical. The primary way to explore the monument complex.

Street-hailing auto rickshaw in Mahabalipuram

Practical. For short distances (5-10 km) or when apps are unavailable. Tell or show the auto driver your destination — they can refuse, in which case move to the next one. Agree on the fare (approx. ₹30—₹40 per km) before you get in. Know the distance to your destination via maps before negotiating.

Mamallapuram Dance Festival in Mahabalipuram

A month-long classical and folk dance festival performed on a stage set against the 7th-century Pallava rock reliefs — Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Odissi, and Mohiniyattam against the illuminated Arjuna's Penance bas-relief.
2026 Dates:

Mahabalipuram's food is coastal Tamil — fresh seafood from the Bay of Bengal alongside standard South Indian tiffin. The town's traveler population has added cafes and multi-cuisine options.

Local food to eat in Mahabalipuram

Grilled fish · Prawn fry · Crab masala · Idli dosa · Appam · South Indian thali · Fried lobster

Food streets in Mahabalipuram

• Othavadai Street — cafes, restaurants, the main traveler-facing food street
• Shore Temple road — local South Indian food, seafood restaurants
• Beach stall area — grilled seafood, corn, snacks

Mahabalipuram is 60 km south of Chennai and has no railway station within the town. Whether arriving or departing, use the transport information below.

Mahabalipuram — Stations, Airport & Bus Stands

Railway Station: Chengalpattu Junction (CGL)
Airport: Chennai International Airport (MAA)
Bus Terminal: Mahabalipuram Bus Stand

By Train
Search “Chengalpattu” as your origin (if departing) or destination (if arriving). Chengalpattu Junction (CGL) is the nearest railhead, approximately 29 km from Mahabalipuram. From Chengalpattu, hire a taxi or take a local bus to Mahabalipuram. Choose a train based on journey duration, departure time, and class availability.

By Flight
Search by city name across IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air. Fly into Chennai International Airport (MAA) — and hire a taxi directly to Mahabalipuram.

By Bus
Buses (AC or non-AC) operate from the bus terminal — head to the counter and ask for your destination. Or, use app-based platforms such as redBus to search and book buses on your route. Both state-run (TNSTC) and private operators are listed — prefer buses with ratings of 4★ or higher.

All fees and charges listed on this page are applicable to foreign nationals only.