Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is barely 70 kms and is connected by good roads. Not a wise idea to combine both these places on the same day as you are unlikely to do justice to both the places.
Mamallapuram is a 7th century port city built by Pallavas and is supposeed to be named after the Pallava King, Mamalla. Mamallapuram is classified as UNESCO World Heritage site. With some of the rock cut temples resembling the Buddhist/Jain architecture, it is believed that the Pallava kings bought artisans and sulptors from central India after they won over the Chalukyas.
We unfortunately missed the most important site – The shore temple, which was closed by the time we reached. We had to limit our explorations around the rock cut temples. The annual Mamallapuram Dance Festival was on we caught a glimpse of some folk dance.
Mamallapuram is on the Chennai – Pondicherry East Cost highway (ECR) and connectivity is not an issue. Tamilnadu has one of the best bus network in the country and the deal just got better with the introduction of new Volvo city buses connecting Mamallapuram with Chennai city.
