Magnificence of Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram, situated 60 km off Chennai on the Bay of Bengal coast, has been a source of fascination for us and we decided to visit this temple city recently.

We set off on a Friday morning, at around 8.30 am, in our car. We took the NICE Road and after crossing Krishnagiri, reached the Golden Temple in Vellore at around 1 pm.

The temple is located on 100 acres and to cover the entire temple, it took us more than three hours. Sri Lakshmi Narayani or Maha Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is the diety there.

After spending some fruitful time at the temple, at around 4.45 pm, we headed towards
Mahabalipuram. We reached our destination at around 8 pm.

We had pre-booked our stay at the Bay Beach Resort and were excited to spend our short holiday in the cottage. Next day morning, we stepped on to the beach and had a whale of a time playing with the sand and the surf.

We then started our drive towards Mahabalipuram. On the way, we stopped at the Crocodile Park, which is well maintained, and the varieties of reptiles there were an eye-opener.
Tiger cave, which had a beach attached to it, was also part of our itinerary.

Soon, we reached Mahabalipuram with its incredible monolithic temples and sculptures. The Shore Temple is a complex of three temples -- Rajasimhesvara, the Kshatriyasimhesvara and Nripatisimha Pallava Vishnugriha -- and the architecture is in Pallava style.

'The Krishna Butter Ball', which is a balancing rock, is compared to the size of butter which Lord Krishna used to steal from his mother's butter jar.

'Arjuna's Penance', an open-air structure, is yet another highlight of Mahabalipuram.

Since the temperature was soaring at 45 degrees, we had to hydrate ourselves by consuming tender coconut water and sugarcane juice.

It was after a bit of walking that we reached the site of the 'Five Rathas', which are known after the five Pandava brothers, and the Light House Museum.

The 'Five Rathas' are temples shaped like 'rathas' but without any wheels.

After admiring the rock-cut temples and its magnificence, we returned to our resort at around 6 pm. After the long and hectic day, we decided to relax on the beach. Needless to say, we were rejuvenated by the breeze and the waves.

Soon, it was time for us to bid goodbye and begin our return journey. Though short, our time at Mahabalipuram, a major seaport of the ancient Pallava kingdom, was indeed an amazing experience.