If you don’t feel quite ready to end your holiday in India, why not consider our three-day Mahabalipuram extension? You can continue your epic Silk and Spices of South India tour or any of our other incredible India itineraries - and prolong the adventure that bit longer!
On our Mahabalipuram tour, we will take you from Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s capital, to Mahabalipuram. A small beachside village, on a strip of land between the shimmering Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake, Mahabalipuram is known for its temples and carvings; remnants of its role as the major seaport of the great Pallava dynasty. Nearby Kanchipuram - The Golden City - was the heart of the ancient kingdom, covered in exquisite temples and crumbling monuments. On this tour, you’ll discover both.
During our Mahabalipuram tour, you’ll stay at the elegant Radisson Blu Temple Bay, offering gorgeous views over the Bay of Bengal and incredible settings for your adventures in this part of India. Expect bliss and beauty from the moment you arrive in Mahabalipuram, to the moment you depart.
Trip Highlights
- Explore the ancient Hindu temples of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram, with an abundance of exquisite carvings
- Recharge in your comfortable resort, soaking in views over the glittering Bay of Bengal
Start your Journey
Chennai - Mahabalipuram
After breakfast, a transfer will take you from Chennai to Mahabalipuram. For the two nights you’re in Mahabalipuram, you’ll be staying at the Radisson Blu Temple Bay - a beautiful resort on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, with lush gardens, coconut-fringed swimming pools and an elegant spa. Spend the rest of the day as you like - reminiscing on the adventures of your South India tour, getting in some pool-side relaxation or perhaps taking out a canoe to glide across the shimmering waters of the Bay of Bengal.
Mahabalipuram
You’ll spend this day exploring ancient archaeological wonders and the decorative flourishes of the temples in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.
Kanchipuram - The Golden City - is a small, ancient city, with a profusion of temples. A holy pilgrimage site for Hindus, the city has around 125 shrines, each of them dating back to the Cholas of 200 BC. The successive capital of the Cholas, Pallavas and Rayas, the city’s height of power and prestige was during the Pallava dynasties - when Mahabalipuram and Mylapore were its great ports. Explore the vast temple complex and ornate carvings of Kailasanatha, Kamakshi Temple and Ekambareswarar Temple. Kanchipuram is also known for its long silk tradition - a unique system of weavers craft the richest saris in India. If you’re looking to return home with some authentic Indian garments, this is the place to purchase them.
Later in the afternoon, you’ll explore Mahabalipuram, a charming village nestled by the sea; home to a dream world of ancient Tamil art and sculptures carved into the rock. Arjuna's Penance is one of the most magnificent monuments, a huge monolith carved with hundreds of celestial beings, human and animal figures. Standing tall by the sea for twelve centuries, the spires of the Shore Temple rise against the beautiful backdrop of the Bay of Bengal.
Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Leave Chennai
Leaving the temples behind, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward or return flight.
Plan Your Dream Trip
What To Expect
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Includes
- Accommodation on single/twin/double sharing basis for two nights
- Room with daily breakfast
- AC vehicle for all transport
- One bottle of mineral water per person per day
- Assistance & porterages: meeting and assistance on arrival/departure at airports & hotels by Le Passage To India representative
- English-speaking local guide for all sightseeing tours
- Entrance fees for monuments
Excludes
- Personal expenses e.g. table drinks, telephone calls, laundry and camera fees
- Tips to drivers, local guides and hotel staff
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