Mahabalipuram near Chennai
Mahabalipuram is situated in Kanchipuram district nearly 15 kms from Chennai which is considered as one of the famous tourist spot in Chennai.More numbers of visitors have been visiting Mahabalipuram in day today life and enjoying the beauty of mahabalipuram historic buildings and beach.
About Mahabalipuram
Tamil Nadu is known for its wonderful sightseeing places which are situated in the southern part in landscape of India in Asian Continent. There are many fantastic surroundings/atmosphere, natural scenery, historical shrine, shoreline temples, distinctive sculptures and so on. Tamil Nadu is also well known for its culture and tradition while compared to others part of the world. Most of the people from other part of the world coming to India as a tourist and they like Indian cultures and traditions very much and want to suit them to Indian traditions. The Mahabalipuram is derived from Mamallapuram named after a royal empire Mamallan which is established in 1827 by Britishers. Mahabalipuram is known for its many orphanages which invite tourists. The temples of Mahabalipuram and monetary shrine of epic Mahabharata with temple chariots of granite rock faces at the same time the celebrity shore temple dressed from a stone are built during the period of King Narasimha Varman. King Narasimha Varman's ancestor Rajasimha Varman showed his excellent talent and creativity on rock-cut carves at Mahabalipuram.
Mahabalipuram is situated in Kanchipuram district nearly 15 kms from Chennai with a total land area of 9 square kilometer approximately exactly to the mean sea level. The climate is modest and blowy due to its location is very closest to the seashore. There is no season to visit Mahabalipuram, people from different part of the country visiting Mahabalipuram in day today life. Among the famous tourist spot in Tamil Nadu, Mahabalipuram is one of the famous wonderful tourist places nowadays in historic India where most of the people from various parts of the world are visiting day-today.
Mahabalipuram is known for its unique figurine, fantastic painting, outstanding carvings, etc. Mahabalipuram has its inherent stone work. Mahabalipuram is situated on the east Coromandel Coast road which countenances the Bay of Bengal. The (ECR) East coastal road which connects Chennai and Pondicherry passes through this place. Mahabalipuram was established during 7th and 10th centuries by Pallava dynasty which has a conventional sea port and Mahabalipuram is considered as a pleasing to the eye to watch.
Mahabalipuram is the second capital of Pallavas who ruled Kanchipuram initially. There is a history behind the name Mahabalipuram. A very impolite, offensive cruel king called Mahabali who reigned Mahabalipuram and during the ferocious war Lord Vishnu killed Mahabali and the place was named as a Mahabalipuram after the death of cruel king Mahabali. The place Mahabalipuram is also called as Mamallapuram. The title "Mamalla" was given by the king Narasimha Varman II who was a great and brave warrior. The name Mamalla means the great wrestler and so Narasimha Varma named as Mamalla by considering the great achievements of various rulers.
Once the Gupta dynasty turn down, the Pallavas lead the way in South India. The Pallavas were very potent and they are profound scholars. The Pallavas reined South India from the period of 3rd Century to 9th Century AD. The most excellent era of Pallava ruling was sandwiched between 650 and 750 AD. This period is called as the Golden age of Pallavas. During the period of Pallavas the great poets, dramatists, Artists, scholars and sages emerged. In simple terms we can say Pallavas as a pioneer and predecessors of ancient art and architecture. To prove this Mahabalipuram is one of the best examples to honor Pallavas cleverness and endowment. The Mahabalipuram itself witnesses in all chic. The prosperity of Mahabalipuram was not known to many people in the world because a Pallava ruler does not exhibit their talent and innovative creations to outer world for some reasons. The sensitive of beauty in Mahabalipuram was out of sight until end of 185th century.Specialty of Mahabalipuram
Every one may know about the rock-cut cave temples made from a single rock, strives of different structures 
which are so inventive and sheer inspired. Mahabalipuram may also refer as open-air Museum in which it's an exhibiting object of historical, scientific and cultural interest. The grand Pallava rulers of Narasimha I and Rajasimha have well conserved these stylistic traits that everyone can enjoy Mahabalipuram even today also. The loveliness of Mahabalipuram is not only due to its architecture but also due to the combined finery of gigantic casuarinas trees, the shiny sandy shoreline and the traditional handicrafts.The Pallava Stylistics
The Pallavas are known for their chic & structural design and Mahabalipuram consists of many ancient architectural monuments. There are so much milestone monuments in Mahabalipuram by Pallavas. Some of them are below.General Information about Mahabalipuram
Total Land area – 9 sq. km
Population – 12500
Altitude – Mean sea level
Climatic conditions: Summer (Max-Min) – 36.6°C – 21.1°C
Winter (Max- Min) - 30.5°C – 19.8°C
Rainfall – 33cm average
Nearest airport – Chennai
Nearest railway station – Chengalpattu
Nearest Bus stand - KoyambeduBeach Temple at Mahabalipuram
The Mandapams in Mahabalipuram are architecture in a manner which is equivalent to the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Passed on the King Narasimha Varman's triumph in 642 AD over the King Chalukyan, Pullakesin II articulates Pallava kings might have brought the sculptors and artisans rear to Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuam. Elephants and other features are carved in stone in Mahabalipuram. Elephant is carved in a single stone. 
Beach temple is one of the famous South Indian temples, constructed in Dravidian style. Beach temple has full of blueprints made by means of carvings. It was under the belief that there were seven glorious temples which are known as seven pagodas, built in the vicinity of the seashore. The great temple was surrounded by grand Mandapam and fortress. Beach temple was originally constructed during 7th century and later the skilled fine art work was fulfilled by Rajasimha, NarasimhaVarma II.Beach temple was achieved attractiveness and sightseer gather together due to it is scheduled among the world custom sites of UNESCO.
The Beach temple consists of totally three temples out of which two are Shiva temples which face east and west respectively constructed by Narasimha Varman II. Another one is the Lord Vishnu temple constructed by Narasimha Varman I. The beautifully stone carved twin Dwaraka Balas present at the entrance of the both Shiva and Lord Vishnu temples. The idiosyncrasy of this meticulous Lord Vishnu temple is that Lord Vishnu lie down on the floor and pay attention on the sounds from the earth. The statue of Vishnu found in parts which are to be seen through several doors. Another monument is portrayed in such a way that Lord Vishnu mounted on the Garuda, who is helping Gajendra which is an elephant found in the southern and northern walls of the portrayals. There is a rock-cut of a lion-rod by two adolescent women. The lion has a four-sided figure twisted in its belly. A big rock behind the temple is the target of the waves to touch it from the olden days. There is a carving of a buffalo running with a stick in the northern side. The temple looks graceful with lightening during weekend evenings. Arjuna's Penance at Mahabalipuram
Arjuna was the great hero in the epic Mahabharata. Arjuna's Penance was built by Narasimha Varman II which has sculptures with figures projecting straightly from the background. The shape of the Arjuna's penance looks like a broad thick timber along a ship's side. Arjuna's penance has 27 meters in length and 9 meters in height with a fissure in the central point of the rock.
On both sides of the rock we can find birds and living things, God and Goddess, Nagas, beautiful young women, immature insects, figures of sun, and figures of moon are mingled together into the thesis of Arjuna's penance. Also this consists of other extraterrestrials are Yakshas, Gandharvas, Vidhyadhars, Siddhas, Charnas, Kimburshas, Kinnara and some fine arts with some musical instruments like venna, etc. On the other hand of the rock consists of a thick forest, ethnic family and animals, a bird sitting on the tree, a monkey with spectaculars climbing on a tree, hunters with bows & arrows, some wild animals such as lion, tiger, elephants are carved. Also a saint performing meditation in single led keeping his both the hands above the head with closed eyes and Lord Shiva in right of the stature. Another visual rending is Lord Vishnu and four saints are seated together. The head of the three saints are windswept due to waves. There is also a portrayal on a river bank with a man standing near the river and prating towards the sun.This Arjuna's penance is considered as one of the fantastic portrayal in Mahabalipuram.
