Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), a UNESCO World Heritage town on the Coromandel coast, is famous for its 7th-century rock-cut temples and sculptures carved by the Pallava dynasty.
Shore Temple
A structural temple built right at the water's edge, one of the oldest stone temples in South India and a defining image of Mahabalipuram.
Pancha Rathas
Five monolithic rock-cut temples, each carved from a single piece of stone in the shape of a chariot, dedicated to the Pandava brothers and Draupadi.
Arjuna's Penance
A massive open-air rock relief, one of the largest in the world, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology carved directly into a rock face.
Krishna's Butterball
A giant boulder balanced on a slope, defying gravity for centuries — a favourite photo stop and local curiosity.
Tiger Cave
A rock-cut shrine a few kilometres north of town, featuring a cluster of carved tiger and yali (mythical lion) heads.
