Mahabalipuram is an important port of the country. It is about 60 km from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. Located in the Bay of Bengal at a distance of The world famous Mahabalipuram is also known today as Mamallipuram. There is a legend behind the naming of this place. It is said that Lord Vishnu had conquered the demon by wearing Vamanavatar. This place is named after the same Mahabali demon. By the way, a legend is more prevalent that in the seventh century, the Pallava king Narasimha Varman was Mahamalla, was powerful and after him it has been named Mahamallapuram or Mahabalipuram.

Mahabalipuram was the capital of the Pallava period, a famous port, trading center and cultural city. Here on the granite mountain, the Mahamalla style (625-74 AD) pavilions, the chariot temple and the frescoes and sculptures engraved on the raised stones to the south of it are found. There are 10 temples built in the Mahamalla style, in which the idols of Surya, Durga, Rajalakshmi, Vamana, Varaha Avatar, Mahishasura Slaughter, Govardhandhari Krishna are visible. There are eight chariot temples in the Mahamalla style, named after Draupadi, Arjuna, Bhima, Dharmaraja, Sahadeva, Ganesha, Pindari and Valaiyan Kuttai. In fact these were Shiva temples, whose builders had left unfinished. Later on these temples of different deities are made of the same type of stone which are famous as Seven Pagodas. They are called chariot temples because they look like chariots from afar.

These Rath temples are 40 feet long, 35 feet wide and 40 feet high. In these idols of deities, gatekeepers, animals have been engraved like the pavilions. Here is an engraved mural of the descent of the Ganges, built on a 30-foot-long, 23-foot-high rock.

Raj Singh style Shiva temple, Kumud temple and Ishwar temple are also here, which are the first development art of this style (700-800 AD). The temples of different deities here are of Dravidian style.

The temples here have many Adyhuchitras, in which Lakshmi seated on a lotus, the worship of Vishnu by the gods and the Gangaavataran and Arjuna's penance are particularly noteworthy in the Adyhuchitras made by cutting the mountain. Some circular sculptures have also been found here, which are of animals, like bulls, elephants, lions and monkeys, which are very alive. Here the deities of the deities are beautifully made. The idols of kings and queens are made in Amaravati style.

Some frescoes from the time of Mahendra Varma have also been obtained from Jain cave temples. Their style is similar to that of Ajanta of the 6th century. The figures here are strong and attractive. They highlight different aspects of life. His sketches here are soulful. At some places, they have been made like a structure. Lotus flowers or round ornaments or body shapes are also shown here.

The nearest railway station to the world famous Mahabalipuram is Chengalpatt, which is 30 kms from Mahabalipuram. It is located in the far west. This railway station falls on the Chennai-Trichy line of Southern Railway. It also connects the cities of Kanchipuram and Arkonam. One can travel from Chengalpatt to Mahabalipuram by bus or taxi. Mahabalipuram is well connected to Chennai and other cities of South India by road. The nearest airport to Mahabalipuram is 'Meenamakkam', which is about 49 kms from Chennai. is far.

Mahabalipuram has quite expensive beach hotels for tourists to stay in, but cheap lodges, hotels, dharamshalas and private houses are easily available on rent in the basti.