Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram Day trip from Chennai by Private car with Guide
Description
You can easily spend a full day exploring Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram's marvellous temples, caves and rock carvings. Most were carved from the rock during the 7th-century reign of Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, whose nickname Mamalla (Great Wrestler) gave the town its name. Official Archaeological Survey of India guides can be hired at sites.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Tour orientation
Of South India's five Shiva temples associated with the five elements, this 12-hectare precinct is the shrine of earth. You enter beneath the 59m-high, unpainted south gopuram, whose lively carvings were chiselled in 1509 under Vijayanagar rule. Inside, a columned hall leads left into the central compound, which Nandi faces from the right. The inner sanctum (Hindus only) contains a lingam made of earth and a mirror chamber whose central Shiva image is reflected in endless repetition.
We will visit the magnificent temple of Kailasanathar Temple from Pallava times. Kanchipuram was the capital of the medieval South Indian Kingdom of Pallavas. The Pallavas were instrumental in the transition from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. We will appreciate these architectural wonders built in 600 AD.
Huddled together at the southern end of Mamallapuram, the Five Rathas were, astonishingly, all carved from single large rocks. Each of these fine 7th-century temples was dedicated to a Hindu god and is now named after one or more of the Pandavas, the five hero-brothers of the epic Mahabharata, or their common wife, Draupadi. The rathas were hidden in the sand until excavated by the British 200 years ago. Ratha is Sanskrit for 'chariot', and may refer to the temples' form or to their function as vehicles for the gods. It's thought they didn't originally serve as places of worship, but as architectural models.
We also visit Arjuna’s Penance, a 100 feet x 45 feet bas relief where an entire masterpiece from the Mahabharata epic has been carved.
The next halt is at Krishna’s Butterball, a curious sight of a 5 meters diameter ball shaped boulder which is perched precariously on a slope and defies Newton’s laws of gravity!
Standing like a magnificent fist of rock-cut elegance overlooking the sea, surrounded by gardens and ruined courts, the two-towered Shore Temple symbolises the heights of Pallava architecture and the maritime ambitions of the Pallava kings. Its small size belies its excellent proportion and the supreme quality of the carvings, many now eroded into vaguely Impressionist embellishments. Built under Narasimhavarman II in the 8th century, it's the earliest significant free-standing stone temple in Tamil Nadu.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(37)
This was a fantastic trip. Driver Samynathan and both guides were great. Both guides were very knowledgeable and the stories were great. Which was exactly what I wanted in a safe cultural experience.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
Excellent day with Rajesh as my guide. I arrived late from flight delays but he arranged the day so that I didn’t miss a thing. Visited the temples of Mamallaparum and Kanchiparum.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram made for an excellent day trip and a fascinating introduction to the rich history and culture of Tamil Nadu. The temples and monuments were beautiful, with intricate carvings, impressive architecture, and centuries of history around every corner. The guides were outstanding and did a great job explaining the stories, symbolism, and historical significance of each site, bringing the temples to life in a way that would have been difficult to appreciate on our own. From the stunning shore temples of Mahabalipuram to the grand temple complexes of Kanchipuram, the entire experience was engaging, informative, and memorable. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, architecture, and South Indian culture.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
This is an outstanding tour for anyone wanting to learn more about Hindu culture and history. The sites are world class and well worth the drive. The tour guides were very professional and accommodating. I highky recommend this experience.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
Loved the tour. Daughter happy to join. Rajesh and driver were excellent. So much history. The temples were clean and we always felt safe. Delicious thali lunch was a bonus.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
Visiting Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram tour from Chennai is more intresting.Both driver and guide done the great job.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
Good trip. Guide (Rajesh) was good and understandable. Driver good. There was another guide later on for a while who was also good.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
Good trip. Guide (Rajesh) was good and understandable. Driver good. There was another guide later on for a while who was also good.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
This is one of our great trip from Chennai.we visited the villages ruled by the same kingdom at 6th century.our guide done the great job.
Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
They were very resourceful and made the trip fun! I thought it would be good if I wanted to travel around with peace of mind, such as traveling alone for the first time for women in India. Maybe some buses if we can get away.
こんにちは マハーバリプラムとカンチプラムのツアーを楽しんでいただけて嬉しく思います。お客様をお迎えできて光栄です。私たちは北インドと南インドで数日間のツアーを行っています。お客様と一緒にもっとツアーを企画したいと思っています。きっと素晴らしい体験ができるはずです。 乾杯、 ザ ワンダー ツアーズ Hi We are happy that you enjoyed your Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram tour. It was our pleasure to hosting you. We are doing Multi-day tours in North and South India.We are waiting to do more tours with you and it definitely gives you a Wonderful experience. Cheers, The Wonder tours
