Mahabalipuram is an ancient city in Tamil Nadu, India that is famous for its historical temples and monuments carved out of rock dating back over 2000 years. It was an important port city and center of culture and arts during the reign of the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century CE. Notable attractions include the Shore Temple, caves containing carvings of Hindu gods, and an annual dance festival showcasing Indian dance. The natural scenery of casuarina trees and sandy beaches combined with the architectural heritage make Mahabalipuram a popular tourist destination that leaves visitors in awe of its grandeur.

1. Mahabalipuram

2. Mahabalipuram

7. About Mahabalipuram The history of Mahabalipuram dates back to two thousand years, it contains nearly forty monuments of different types including an "open air bas relief" which is the largest in the world, for centuries it has been a centre of pilgrimage, it figures in the early annals of the British search for the picturesque in India in the 18th century, today it attracts shoals of foreigners in search of relaxation and sea bathing, and most strange of all, it has an atomic power plant for neighbour. Mahabalipuram was already a centre of pilgrimage when, in the 7th century Mamalla made it a seaport and began to make temples fashioned of rock. It was through Mahabalipuram that many Indian colonists, who included sages and artists, migrated to Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka's national chronicle, the "Mahavamsa" testifies to this fact.