Mamallapuram Audio Tour

Welcome to the seaside town of Mamallapuram, an ancient port steeped in history and home to awe-inspiring monuments. This tour takes you back 1300 years, when the place was ruled by the Pallava dynasty. The Pallava kings were known to be great builders, and Mamallapuram was their workshop. The city is now a living museum, filled with stories of a fascinating period in Indian history. What was life like back then? How did sculptors of the time build magnificent structures out of immovable rock? What do stone inscriptions tell us about the evolution of local languages? Trace the history of temple building in South India. Listen to stories of cursed kings and powerful sages, of vengeful goddesses and wise demons carved into the walls. And follow the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms as you explore the most iconic sights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience history like never before with the Mamallapuram audio tour.

Signage Consultants: Cityworks

This audio tour is brought to you in partnership with Tamil Nadu Tourism and the Archaeological Survey of India. We wish to thank the Aseema Trust and their benefactors for making this tour available to all users at no cost.

Free/Paid

Free

Conveyance

Timing & Ticketing

TIMINGS

The monuments at Mamallapuram are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, on all days of the week. The Lighthouse complex closes at 5:00 PM.

The Sthalasayana Perumal Temple is closed from 12:00 PM till 3:00 PM daily, and the innermost sanctum of that temple is open only to Hindus. That innermost sanctum is not covered on this trail.

Best time: Go as early as you can. The walk is best done between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM or between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Afternoons can get quite hot, especially between April and July.

*The timings and ticket prices are subject to change. Please visit https://asichennai.gov.in/ to enquire about the latest updates before your visit.

TICKETS

Shore Temple & Five Rathas
Indian Citizens: Rs. 40
Foreign Travellers: Rs. 600
Children under 15: Free

Tiger Cave Complex
Indian Citizens: Rs. 25
Foreign Travellers: Rs. 300

Attire

Dress comfortably, taking the heat into account. Hats, sunglasses and umbrellas are strongly recommended.

Distances

Mamallapuram is about 60 km from Chennai. The monuments around Varaha Cave, including the Lighthouse and Arjuna’s Penance bas-relief are all within walking distance of each other. The Shore Temple, Five Rathas and Tiger Cave are best reached through a vehicle.

Photography

Photography is permitted. However, you have to buy camera tickets.

HIGHLIGHTS

Most of the monuments in Mamallapuram are almost 1300 years old. The Shore temple, Five Rathas, the cluster of monuments around the Varaha cave, Arjuna’s Penance bas-relief and the Tiger Cave are all worth a visit.
A climb to the top of the Lighthouse offers you a unique view of the entire complex.
Don’t miss Krishna’s Butterball, a rock that defies all laws of physics!