Caption: The Cover Photo of Zone - 3.
Dear friends,
This post is a member of the Mega - Series of 51 posts, about Mahabalipuram, created as a Total “Photo-Walk and Traveller Guide” covering all the “Tourist Destinations” of Mahabalipuram. The 51 POIs are grouped into 4 Zones & a few stand-alone monuments according to the location of monuments. In other words, if one visits 4 zones, all the important POIs can be covered.
List of POIs & Headings - Here.
| POI | POI (Monument) Name | GMaps | TG Posts’ | Heritage | Photos | Visit | Monument | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Links | Links | IMP | IMP | Priority | Type | (Minutes) | |
| ZONE -1 | ||||||||
| 1 | Murugan Temple | Here | Here | 4 | 4 | Low | Structural | 15 |
Introduction to Mahabalipuram:
Mahabalipuram is a picturesque historical coastal city in Tamil Nadu around 60 km from Chennai. One of India’s oldest cities. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) stands at the top of the popular tourist destinations in Asia.
Mahabalipuram/Mamallapuram has its roots (records) from the Sangam age (1st century BCE). The Pallava kings ruled here from the 3rd to the 9th Century CE; the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I founded Mahabalipuram in the 7th century AD. Most of the important monuments are dated between the 7th & the 8th century AD. (Some interesting notes - Here).
The previous post (POI No -31) of this series about ’ Group of Monuments**'** is Here.
The next POI No -32 A is ‘Heritage Items & Antiques Sales Counter’, Here.
This POI -32 - Souvenir shops
Location: This POI comes in Zone -03.
Zone Map:
Photo - 1. Caption: India Map & the zone map of Zone - 3, Mahabalipuram.
Right from the parking lot of Shore Temple to Mahabalipuram Beach, the right side is fully occupied by street (semi-permanent) souvenir shops run by the locals. You can get a variety of items and bargaining is standard practice, unless you want to give away money as charity.
You can get different types of seashells, neck chains made up of shells, tattoos, porcelain vessels, plastic gadgets, street food, drinking water, along with many more items. Also, many of the sellers will follow you expecting some sales from you - you can strictly tell them a ‘NO’, they will stop pestering you.
Kindly remember that there is no guarantee of the items purchased from such shops; also take care of your valuables during walking & shopping.
The deep sand dunes make your walking tiring - maybe it is a better idea to remove your footwear to walk faster.
IMPORTANT:
Within the compound of the Shore Temple, you have a sales counter selling ancient items, Indian heritage materials, including Kancheepuram Saree, etc. and is briefed in POI 32A.
Photo -1. Caption: The souvenir street shops. Photo -2 Caption: Another view of the shops. Photo -3. Caption: Shops in the path. Photo -4. Caption: Shops that are selling toys & other items. Photo -5. Caption: A souvenir shop on the left & a footwear shop on the right.
Accessibility: Due to deep sand dunes, it is difficult to push the wheelchair through the street.
- The Google Maps link of the POI = Here (Beach Road).
- Reference Link (Wiki) = N/A
- Heritage Importance = N/A
- Photographic Importance = 3/5
- Visit priority = Normal
- Monument type = Others
- The Duration to see the POI = N/A
- Entry: Public Road to the beach and hence open always.
- Visiting hours: As above. (Kindly reconfirm the entry fee & visiting hours before your trip).
- Photography: Typical Street side shops & articles.
- How to reach: By Railway: Nearest Railway stations are Chengalpattu (29 km) and Chennai (48 km) well-connected with many Indian cities. By Airways: Chennai International Airport (55 km) away from Mahabalipuram. By Road: Private/Public bus services can be availed from many cities of Tamil Nadu and South India including Chennai and Chengalpattu to reach Mahabalipuram.
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