#Mahabalipuram [03] A “Master Guide” for Mahabalipuram Mega Series of Connect Posts-TravellerG

[TravellerG]

This post is a “Master Guide” (Part -1 of 2) for the Mahabalipuram Mega Series of LG Connect Posts.

This post will give the overall idea about the total monuments & how to plan to visit Mahabalipuram, without missing any important locations.

What is this SERIES of Posts about?

This series is about Mahabalipuram, which is a picturesque, historical, seaside city in Tamil Nadu (a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake), around 60 km from Chennai.

What is special about Mahabalipuram?

Mahabalipuram is a great historic city which gifts us various monuments from the Sangam Era (3rd Century BCE) to 9th century CE. There are around 40 monuments recognised by UNESCO as world heritage sites.

A Collage of few Monuments

What are these monuments?

These monuments can be broadly categorised into 5 groups:

• Rathas: chariot-shaped temples
• Mandapas: Cave temples
• Rock reliefs
• Structural temples &
• Excavations

(More details will be provided in the future posts)

Can we have slightly more details?

Yes… there are breathtaking monuments:

• 10 major Rathas,
• 10 Mandapas,
• 2 Rock bas-reliefs &
• 3 Structural Temples &
• Many others

What are these monuments representing?

These monuments represent Shaivism (Lord Shiva), Vaishnavism (Lord Vishnu) and Shaktism (Maa Durga) - the deities or characters in the Hindu mythologies. These monuments are great treasures of inscriptions (6th to 9th-century) in different languages, which provides insight into medieval South Indian art, culture, history, governance, religion, etc.

What are there to see as a tourist?

1. For sightseeing:
2. For Photographers:
3. For Foodies:

For all the above 3 points + others - there is NO LIMIT!!! The limit is up to you to decide/create - because of the seashore and open public-monuments you can start before the sunrise; for the same reason, one can continue up to late at night.

How much time do you need to see all the Monuments & Museums?

A serious explorer will need 2 days (& one night) to cover with photography; I took 3 full days for my Photo-Shoot.

What is the best time to visit Mahabalipuram?

Although October to March has an acceptable climate, November to February will be the most suitable period. (Otherwise - warm/hot & highly humid).

Google search will give enough hints regarding supplementary points, including how to reach (Travel Support) Mahabalipuram.

How can we have an overview of POIs in Mahabalipuram?

How can we locate the different POIs in sequence, so that we can cover it without missing any place and in the shortest time possible.?

These are explained in the NEXT Post - “Master Guide” (Part -2 of 2)

Accessibility:

Most of the Monuments are accessible at least to view from some distance; however, Entry, Parking & Toilets are limited.

Disclaimer: While I have spent a lot of time to confirm the accuracy of the information provided in this series, there are mistakes possible due to the vast compilation which is from different sources/references & local guides - thanks for understanding; however, if you have better information, kindly inform me & I shall do the needful.

I sincerely request our @ErmesT @C_T @AdamGT @TusharSuradkar @KashifMisidia @Selvamani_R @Anil6969 to give feedback about this post as the “Master Guide” - what more details can make a typical visitor/tourist more comfortable?

I shall be adding Zones 2, 3 & 4 shortly. The Google Maps Lists also will be added.

@Arati @PritishB @Gurukrishnapriya - kindly give your feedback…please

Thanks

Sl. No:	Title	Link	#TI No	Author
1	#Mahabalipuram [01] - Introduction of 24 Posts about Mamallapuram (UNESCO), Tamil Nadu	Here	68	TravellerG
2	#Mahabalipuram [02] The different Names and the Mythical Story	Here	70	TravellerG
3	A “Master Guide” for Mahabalipuram Mega Series of Connect Posts	Here	71	TravellerG	More

[Erna_LaBeau]

Wow @TravellerG so detail thanks for a very thorough info Sir, I personally really appreciate it

[NareshDarji]

Really very detailed informative post for tourists who comes to visit Mahabalipuram. Well explained all details. @TravellerG

Thanks for sharing with us.

[TravellerG]

Thank you very much for your personal feedback, dear @Erna_LaBeau

[TravellerG]

Highly appreciate your support & response, dear @NareshDarji

Regards

[Tejal]

@TravellerG

Excellent, unbelievable explanation about mahabalipuram. Thank you for sharing and I also learn how to explain about our post or topic. Thank you sir.

Regards Tejal

[RtnArulPrakasamT]

Super sir excellent presentation

I share Natural sliding rock video : https://photos.app.goo.gl/VMUPbNCRraz5SnRJ8

[Ajaypalsagar]

Good sir ji very good knowledge share of this side

[Anil6969]

wow so much of details seems evenjullising the mahabalipuram as a whole tour thanks for sharing @TravellerG sorry for delay as i was on travelling came yesterday evening

keep sharing good post

happy to see @RtnArulPrakasamT @Tejal @NareshDarji had already attended the post and shares their valuable feedback

regards

[TravellerG]

Since you know the place, kindly add your comments wherever possible.

Incase your time permits, I welcome you to to collaborate with me for different locations of Mahabalipuram.

Also add your comments and suggestions, dear @RtnArulPrakasamT

[TravellerG]

Your zeal of learning makes you different, dear @Tejal ,

Happy that you are able to enjoy the post .

Kindly give indication when the topic is not clear ,

Thanks for your response

[TravellerG]

Welcome …

Happy that you are getting something from these post’s,

Dear @Ajaypalsagar

[TravellerG]

Happy to know that you are back , dear @Anil6969

Yes, we really felt the gap when you were away .

Kindly go through this post in detail when you are free and suggest me how we can improve upon the same so that the post in the series will be more useful to travellers.

Thanks

[Gurukrishnapriya]

Thanks for sharing an elaborate version and tagging me @TravellerG Sir. Surely I will go through completely and give my feedback.

Thanks again.

[Anil6969]

sure sir

[ErmesT]

Thanks for sharing this amazing project @TravellerG

There is a lot of work to do here, and I agree that the best way to manage all this is to have a Master post.

However, I think there are different ways to explore about how to share more details and lists.

A Google Docs file can be interesting, but I think you can have 3 ways, all exciting and more adherent to the Local Guides and Google Maps environment:

• A list in Google Maps
• A Google My Maps
• If you really want to challenge yourself, what about a visual Project in Google Earth?

Times ago a wrote a post comparing, with a real example, these three ways, all amazing, to share different places on an area: How many ways to contribute? Nature & history - Alps of North East . The idea of the post is to offer to the community, through real examples, the possibility to learn how many ways we have to contribute, being Local Guides. In this way, while we share our experience, we also invite others to emulate what we do

[Arati]

Incredible post @TravellerG sir, I guess posts and details like this make traveller work easy and they don’t have to spend much time on stuff like parking place(etc) that they usually spend more , Being Indian I know about parking places ( it’s quite difficult also), I Personally appreciate the efforts which you put in for the zones.

Thank you for sharing all the insights about Mahaballipuram. Looking forward to your next posts as well.

Thank you

[Harsha_Reddy]

Dear @TravellerG sir.

Very Informative and Helpful post sir.

For sure, this post will be very helpful when I visit Mahabalipuram, which is on my list.

Thank you for the post, sir.

[Austinelewex]

What a very fine post @TravellerG

The manner and way you write is explicitly defined. Thank you for sharing much details about Mahabalipuram and its beauties.

I will like to tag @OlgaKlimchik to take a look at this post.

Best regards.

[C_T]

Thanks for sharing useful information on Mahabalipuram @TravellerG

It appears one has to spend at least two two-three days to explore the place fully.

Are there any guided tours within the temple complex?