Mahabalipuram Hotels

One of the oldest heritage cities of India, Mahabalipuram (or Mamallapuram) is a perfect holiday spot for ancient art and architecture lovers. Mahabalipuram is known for its carvings in stone, mostly monoliths, depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Most notable among these in Mahabalipuram is the carved relief showing Arjuna's Penance, which also has carvings of gods, goddesses and other celestial beings. The Shore Temple is Mahabalipuram is one of the oldest surviving temples in the area and houses within it smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Mahabalipuram also has a set of monolith rock-cut temples dedicated to the Pandavas and their wife. The Tiger Cave at Mahabalipuram is a popular picnic spot and has a shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga. Another striking feature of Mahabalipuram is the huge rock located on the hill-slope. The rarity of this rock in Mahabalipuram arises from the fact that the rock does not move under any circumstances. Mahabalipuram's beach is also one of the finest and the shore is lined with casuarina groves. This beach in Mahabalipuram provides spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset. Mahabalipuram is also one of the best places to try South Indian delicacies including seafood and South Indian curries. Mahabalipuram's rich art and culture make it a famous centre of traditional dance performances.