Mahabalipuram
Come for the seventh and eighth century rock carvings and the Shore Temple on the Bay of Bengal, about 60 km south of Chennai.
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Mahabalipuram, also spelled Mamallapuram, is a coastal town in Tamil Nadu, about 60 km south of Chennai on the Bay of Bengal. The Pallava dynasty built its port and temples here, and the granite outcrops and beach hold carved monuments from the seventh and eighth centuries. The best known are the Shore Temple, the Pancha Rathas (five shrines cut from single boulders) and Arjuna's Penance, a large relief carved into a rock face. The monument group is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can see the monuments as a day trip from Chennai, but one or two nights gives you time to visit early or late in the day, when it is quieter. Stone-carving workshops around town let you watch the craft at work. Plan for January to March, the cooler, drier months. The northeast monsoon brings heavy rain from October to December. Allow at least one full day to walk the monument group.
Mahabalipuram in five
- Start at the Shore Temple before the heatThe Pancha Rathas and the Shore Temple have little shade, and crowds build from late morning. Go at opening with water and a hat.
- Agree the fare before you get inSettle the price with a taxi driver before you set off. Compare a pre-booked taxi with an app cab.Getting around
- Carry small rupee notesAuto-rickshaw drivers and roadside stalls may have no change for large notes. Get small notes from a bank or ATM in Chennai before you travel south.
- Cover shoulders and knees at the shrinesInside the shrine rooms, cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes where the guards ask. Carry a light shawl for this.
- Save offline maps before you arriveThe village lanes are confusing on foot and hard to read on a paper map. Save offline maps for the town and the monument site before you arrive.Phones and eSIM
Things to do in Mahabalipuram
See all attractions in Mahabalipuram
Need to know
- Currency
- Indian Rupee (INR)
- Entry
- e-Visa for many nationalities, applied online before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for all emergencies, 100 police, 101 fire
- Tipping
- Small tips customary; many restaurants add a service charge
- Time
- UTC+5:30, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Cool, dryJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- FebruaryClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Cool, dryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh34°Low24°Warming, dryMarchClear
Best
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warming, dry
- AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh36°Low26°Hot, dryAprilClear
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MayClear9 rainy daysHigh37°Low28°Very hotMayClear
Poor
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh36°Low28°Hot, breezyJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, breezy
- JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh35°Low27°Hot, breezyJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, breezy
- AugustRain18 rainy daysHigh34°Low27°Hot, breezyAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 151 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, breezy
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh34°Low26°Hot, humidSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 176 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- OctoberRain21 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Monsoon rainsOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 240 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon rains
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Monsoon rainsNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 320 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon rains
- DecemberRain11 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Monsoon rainsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 151 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon rains
Average daily high and low in Mahabalipuram, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Mahabalipuram
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 26°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 55%
Mahabalipuram
04:54 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°24°55%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Wed31°25°88%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Thu30°24°78%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Fri29°24°90%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Sat29°24°91%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Sun30°23°74%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Mon30°23°50%Monday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 50%.
Updated 03:57 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Chennaiabout 1 to 2 hours by roadThe state capital, with the airport, rail links and museums.
- Kanchipuramabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadA temple town known for its large shrines and silk weaving.
- Puducherryabout 2 hours by roadColonial-era streets and a seafront promenade, a long afternoon away.
Before you go to Mahabalipuram
Rules for Mahabalipuram, checked
- Many nationalities need an e-Visa, applied online before arrival. Check eligibility on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, before you book.Source
- Flying a drone near the monuments needs permission in India. Check the DGCA rules before you pack one.
- The rock carvings are protected monuments. Do not climb on or touch them, and follow the guards' instructions.
- Declare cash and goods above the limits on your arrival form. Check the current limits with Indian Customs before you travel.
Plan around Mahabalipuram
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for an India trip
Read the guideTamil NaduThe state around Mahabalipuram, with its temple towns and coast
Read the guideGetting aroundCabs, buses and trains from Chennai to the coast
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs an e-Visa and how to apply
Read the guideWhere to stayTown, beach road and village bases compared
Read the guideMahabalipuram FAQ
Is Mahabalipuram worth visiting from Chennai?
Yes, for the rock-cut monuments, the Shore Temple and the stone-carving workshops in town. It is about 60 km from Chennai, so you can see it on a long day or a short overnight.
How many days do you need in Mahabalipuram?
One full day covers the Shore Temple, the Pancha Rathas and the Arjuna's Penance carvings. Stay a night if you want to see the monuments early and have a quiet evening by the sea.
How do you get from Chennai to Mahabalipuram?
By taxi, app cab or bus along the coast road, usually an hour or more depending on traffic. Agree the fare or check the meter before you set off.
When is the best time to visit Mahabalipuram?
January to March brings cooler, drier days. October to December brings the northeast monsoon, with heavy rain on the coast.
Do you need a guide at the monuments?
Not required. A guide explains the stories behind the carvings, which are easy to miss without context.