Mahabalipuram walking tour by tourism ministry approved company
Description
Over 3 hours, the Mahabalipuram walking tour will teleport you to the 7th century incredible rock cut monuments. It is hosted by a company approved by the ministry of tourism and is a member of Indian Tour Operators Association. This tour can be done by walk or in your vehicle. We can also arrange a tuk tuk or autorickshaw. You will experience masterpieces from this world heritage site like the Pancha Rathas which are rock cut monolith temples, Arjuna's Penance the giant open air rock relief, the gravity defying Krishna's butterball and the Shore temple which is the last remaining of the 7 Pagodas mentioned by Marco Polo. Mahabalipuram is the proud recipient of world's first stone carving city declaration. However, the next generation of sculptors are moving to the cities for jobs threatening a slow death for this fine art. Our company is helping this community by training & employing local guides and by procuring their wares to strengthen their livelihood. .
Tour Options
Itinerary
We reach the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. Panch Rathas, or the 5 chariots is our first destination. These are rock cut monolith structures, where of the chariots are dedicated to the lead cast of the Mahabharata epic- Draupadi, Arjuna, Nakul-Sahadeva, Bhima and Yudhister. There is also a sculpture of an elephant next to the ratha of Nakul-Sahadeva.
Pandava cave is the largest cave-temple at Mahabalipuram The cave is supported on six pillars and two pilasters. There are 3 spectacular sculptures of mythical creatures called Yali on the pillars.
We next visit Arjuna’s Penace, a bas-relief monument that’s considered one of India’s most magnificent pieces of ancient art, depicting vivid scenes from the Mahabharata. The relief is 100 feet long and 45 feet tall! The main story being told is how Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, performed severe austerities in order to obtain Lord Shiva's weapon.
The next stop is Krishna’s Butterball, a granite boulder that’s poised on a stony slope. This curious boulder seems to defy Newton's laws of gravity and has not moved an inch despite being in this precarious position on the slope for more than a thousand years.
The Varaha cave is carved out of huge piece of granite and dates back to the 7th century. This temple took several decades to be completed. There are squatting lions adorning the pillars which support the hall. Another highlight are the sculptures of two guardian angels who protect the sanctum.
This cave is a fine example of the spectacular architecture style of the Pallavas. The rock cut temple is dedicated to the holy trinity of Hindu Gods- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are fine carvings of elephants as well.
This is a imposing chariot carved out of a single stone. Originally dedicated to Lord Shiva, it now has the deity of his son Lord Ganesh. It was built in the 7th century by King Mahendravarman I. The other highlight of this temple are the 18 inscriptions in ancient grantha and nagari scripts of Sanskrit.
Built in the year 640, it is India's oldest light house and one of the oldest in the world. Mahabalipuram was a very busy port since the 7th century and hence this lighthouse played a significant role in keeping mariners safe.
This cave has 2 imposing bas-reliefs on the walls. The first one is Lord Vishnu sleeping on top of the coils of a serpent. The other is with Goddess Durga fighting with the demon Mahishasura on a lion.
Our last port of call is the Shore Temple. The magnificent temple overlooks the Bay of Bengal and was an important centre during the reign of the Pallavas when Mahabalipuram was the main port of their Kingdom. Built by King Raja Simha during the early 8th century, the Shore Temple is a landmark in the architectural landscape of India. Marco Polo referred to this as the seven pagodas. The existing temple is the last surviving of the 7 which once stood as a beacon for sea farers.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(117)
My partner and I had a wonderful time on this tour. Ramesh was very knowledgeable and friendly giving us the perfect mix of history and time to wander. All the temples were amazing and we enjoyed learning how they were made and what they represent. A must visit with an excellent guide!
Great experience and narration by Ramesh. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, Ramesh and my transporter Ahamed were very freindly, hospitable and professional. Great tour as Ramesh was very knowledgable historically.
Very impressive, lots to see and learn, tour to recommend
Really nice guide with lot of interesting stories and anecdotes
Ramesh our Guide is impeccable! He omitted no details and explained every monument and carving with much passion and enthusiasm. Such an experience to uncover visually, sensory, the history and stories behind every touch points
Informative guide who led me around the monuments at my own pace and offered much useful context and history when asked
Jainath did an excellent job and was very thorough in explaining each site. The driver, Udhaya also did a great job getting us from place to place safely and efficiently! Would 10/10 recommend
This tour was the ideal way to visit all the wondrous sights of this fascinating and historically important town. Gopal was very knowledgeable and explained everything in a way that allowed us to truly appreciate what we were seeing, and it's true wonder. Incredible place and great guide.
Wonderful visit v informative and a great guide . Viator needs to not force us to write a lengthy review
I had a solo tour with Ramesh. He was amazing. I arrived 40mins early and he was really accommodating. The tour was incredible, such beautiful sights. He was so knowledgeable, passionate and thoroughly engrossing. He was a gentleman, holding my rucksack, took lovely photos of me and was really professional too. It is worth getting the rickshaw driver because the walks between sights will be long and very hot.
