Start your day with an early breakfast and head out to the Mamallapuram Beach which boasts of golden sands and clear water. You can enjoy swimming in the sea or lazing around on the shore.
After spending a few hours at the beach, head to the Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 8th century. This temple is built in Dravidian style architecture and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Next, walk to the Pancha Rathas, a group of five monolithic rock temples. These temples resemble chariots and are an excellent example of medieval Dravidian architecture.
Distance from Mamallapuram Beach to Shore Temple: 800 m | Time taken: 5 min
Distance from Shore Temple to Pancha Rathas: 1 km | Time taken: 15 min
Day 2: Caves and Monuments
Start your second day by visiting the famous Mahishamardini Cave, which is renowned for its intricate stone carvings that depict various scenes from Hindu mythology.
Next, head over to the Varaha Cave Temple, a rock-cut temple that dates back to the 7th century. The temple houses beautiful carvings of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, and other Hindu deities.
After that, visit the Arjuna's Penance, a giant sculpture that is considered one of India's largest open-air bas-reliefs. The sculpture is believed to depict Arjuna, a character from the Mahabharata, performing penance to Lord Shiva.
Distance from Mahishamardini Cave to Varaha Cave Temple: 500 m | Time taken: 5 min
Distance from Varaha Cave Temple to Arjuna's Penance: 850 m | Time taken: 10 min
Time and Costs Estimates
Mamallapuram Beach (2 hours, Free)
Shore Temple (1 hour, ₹600)
Pancha Rathas (1 hour, ₹30)
Mahishamardini Cave (45 min, ₹30)
Varaha Cave Temple (45 min, ₹30)
Arjuna's Penance (1 hour, Free)
Total Estimated Costs: ₹690
Useful Tips
If you have an extra day, you can visit Krishna's Butter Ball & Crocodile Bank. If you have less time, you can skip Mahishamardini Cave and Varaha Cave Temple.