Tourist places to visit in Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram Beach:

Sunny days, sandy beaches and a rich history almost sum up Mahabalipuram in its entirety. The beach is beautiful, white and clean, and can be enjoyed abundantly by tourists.

Shore Temple:

 

Built during the 7th century, it is one of the oldest South Indian temples constructed in the Dravidian style. The Shore Temple gets its name because it overlooks the shore of  Bay of Bengal and is built with blocks of granite, dating from 8th century AD. It comprises of three shrines, where the prominent ones are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Five Rathas :

The Five Rathas, also known as Panch Rathas, is a exemplary set of rock temples. They are excellent examples of the evolution of Dravidian style architecture.These temples are built in the same shape as pagodas, and greatly resemble Buddhist shrines and monasteries. The rathas are associated with the great epic Mahabharata. The first ratha that is located right by the entrance gate is Draupadi's Ratha. It is shaped like a hut and is dedicated to the goddess Durga. Next comes Arjuna's Rath. This one has a small portico and carved pillar stones and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are no carvings inside this temple, but many are on the outside. Directly in front of Arjuna's. Rath is the Nakula Sahadev Rath. This ratha has some huge elephant sculptures included that are a huge draw for the Five Rathas. It is dedicated to the God of Rain, Lord Indra. The Bhima Rath is huge. It measures 42 ft in length, 24ft in width, and 25ft in height. The pillars there do contain lion carvings even though the ratha as a whole is incomplete. The largest of the Five Rathas is the Dharamraja Yudhistar's Rath. This rath is also dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Arjuna's Penance:

• Mahabalipuram is a famous place for its 7th and 8th-century art and architecture, especially the stone carvings. Arjuna's penance is one of the most famous stone carvings there. It is biggest open-air rock relief carved on two massive monolithic rock. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. The monolith is also known by the name of 'The Descent of Ganga'.
• The Arjuna's Penance is situated at a distance of 58 km from Tamil Nadu where it faces the shores of the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. It has over 100 figures of gods and semi-divine creatures, birds, and beasts.
  The carved edifice is named after the Mahabharata hero, Arjuna where he is shown to be performing an austerity to receive a boon from Shiva to fight the Mahabharata war. Another sculpture shows how King Bhagiratha brought river Ganges down to earth so that the souls of his ancestors could rest in peace.

Alamparai Fort:

• Alamparai Fort lies in the village of Kadappakkam which is at a distance of 50 km from Mamallapuram on the land which overlooks the sea. It was constructed during the reign of the Mughals and had a 100-meter harbour which stretched into the sea. Salt, Ghee and zari cloth were exported from the harbour. The fort was ruled as well as taken down by both Mughals as well as French in the 17th century. The fort got destroyed due to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
• Alamparai served as a sea port in ancient times. It was also known as Alamparva and Alampuravi. The fort was constructed during the rule of the Mughals extending from 1736 CE to 1740 CE. It was first under the control of the Nawab of Arcot Doste Ali Khan.

Tiger's Caves:

• Tiger's Caves is near the coastal village of Salurankuppam that is only 5 kilometers to the north of Mahabalipuram. This spectacular mandap contains a shrine that is solely dedicated to the wondrous goddess Durga.
• There are massive yet impressive figures placed in front of the caves. As with most carvings in India, the carvings and figures tell a story. The stories here have to do with an event that occured with the goddess Durga. The Tiger's Caves are a fantastic picnic spot, so you may want to plan your day that you are there at lunch time.