Mamallapuram

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Mahabalipuram (named after the demon king Mahabali) or Mamallapuram (named after the Pallava king Mamalla) is a 7th-century port city in the state of Tamil Nadu in the southeast of India. It is the only real "backpacker's city" in this part of the country with sun, a beach and a variety of historical monuments. You can eat delicious fresh fish, sunbathe reasonably and enjoy, for example, the bank temple and other "stone working monuments" many of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Throughout the city you can still hear the ticking and hammering that lies about 60 km south of the big city Chennai. The 2004 tsunami may have exposed parts of a 7th century temple. When water retreated, various images of animals emerged. The statues and the temple are possibly part of the mythical seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram.

Almost every monument in the village of Mamallapuram is carved out of a piece of stone and was built between the 7th and 9th century. The monuments are from an early stage of Dravidia architecture in which Hindu design elements are clearly visible.

The monuments include (cave) temples, monolithic rathas (battle chariots) and carved reliefs showing very ordinary daily activities.

Shore temple:

This temple stands as the name suggests on the coast of the Gulf of Bengal. It is a small, somewhat weathered but romantic temple in the middle of the sea, "surrounded" by a high stone rock wall to prevent further erosion.

Inside are several small temples that worship God Shiva and Vishnu among others. In the evening the temple is beautifully illuminated. A large group of underwater ruins has been discovered near the temple.

Of these ruins one thinks that they are from before 6000 BC to be.

Pancha Rathas (five carts)

These five monolithic buildings are named after the five Pandavas; the champions of Mahabharata. You see a building with a lotus, a beautiful elephant (it is claimed this is the best carved form in India) and, among other things, a lion.

The whole is walled by a unique decorated stone wall. All buildings are worship for the Indian gods as "Durga", "Shiva" and "Indra". These unique stones lay in the sea for years under the sand until the British found them some 200 years ago.

Other notable sights in the town are; Arjuna's Penance which includes the birth of the river Ganges but also the penance of Arjuna. This relief sculpture is a huge wall plaque of about 30 by 12 meters. A unique building unique in India. 

Other attractions:

• The big Krishna's butter ball and the Sculptures museum.

There is only one bus station in Mamallapuram and it is located on the corner of East Raja and South Mada. From

here you can travel to Chennai (Madras) in less than 2 hours.

Mamallapuram - Pondicherry (Puducherry): there are about 10 buses a day to Pondicherry per day. The price is about 22 Rupee and the ride takes about 2 hours.

There are numerous restaurants and cafés in the tourist town; try a fish restaurant once. I found the grilled fish at our

hostel (see below) delicious (and affordable). Try otherwise a big fish out with a few other people.

• Name: Hotel Lahskmi

Address: Othavadai street

Price: R 300

Phone nr. : 27442463

Content:

This excellent hostel (formerly the Lakshmi Lodge) is located in a busy backpackers' street in the center of the village and near the beach. On the first floor is a large and popular restaurant where they grill delicious fresh fish in the evening. There is a swimming pool but do not expect too much - it is a big tank on an elevation where no one swims.

There are different types of rooms; I had a small apartment house in a kind of street with several houses next to it and opposite; it is all basic but fine. You have your own toilet and the shower consists of a bucket of (hot) water. Breakfast is exclusive.

You can buy a combi ticket for the entrance of the two main temples but also individual tickets if you want. You pay 250 Rupees for the bank temple and the same amount for the Five Rathas attraction. The rest of the things is free. Otherwise ask at the tourist information office.