Mahabalipuram Tour: Explore Ancient Rock Temples

Explore Mahabalipuram’s ancient rock-cut temples and South Indian culture on a private tour from Chennai. Perfect for history and art enthusiasts.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum - The first stop in Dakshin Chitra, a very interesting “museum” that showcases traditional South Indian houses and arts - they have carefully relocated brick by brick many old and traditional houses from across South India - a fantastic visit
  • Tiger Cave - The Tiger Cave is a fascinating rock-cut Hindu temple…
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • Tour
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Camera Fees where applicable
  • Lunch for guide
  • Tips - though not expected, it would be great to leave your guide a tip to show your appreciation.
Additional Information

Explore Mahabalipuram on our exclusive private day tour, guided by knowledgeable and highly educated cultural experts with backgrounds in history, architecture, and fine arts.
Mahabalipuram was a significant ancient port, well-known to the Romans and Greeks. Today, this enchanting town is globally celebrated for its stunning 6th-century rock-cut temples…

Location
Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum
State Highway 49
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Bindur7
Jan 6, 2025
Exceptional experience with unmatched knowledge and Charisma!! - I had the pleasure of experiencing a one-day Chennai city tour and a one-day Mahabalipuram tour with Chandan, and I cannot recommend him highly enough! His vast knowledge of history and architecture is truly unparalleled. He brought each site to life with fascinating stories and detailed explanations that showed his deep passion and expertise. What made the experience even more special was Chandan’s incredible conversational skills. He has a knack for making every moment engaging and enjoyable. Time seemed to fly as we explored the stunning landmarks, thanks to his friendly demeanor and insightful commentary. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or just someone looking for an enriching travel experience, Chandan is the perfect guide. His professionalism, combined with his warm personality, made these tours unforgettable. I left with not just beautiful memories but also a greater appreciation for the cultural richness of Chennai and Mahabalipuram. Thank you, Chandan, for a truly amazing experience! Would definitely book another tour with him in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tmd96
Jan 3, 2025
Mahabalipuram Exploration - Chandan drove us from Chennai to Mahabalipuram to see the amazing sights Mahabalipuram has to offer. He provided us with information/history of both Chennai and Mahabalipuram. Both cities are must-see places, and Mahabalipuram (home of several UNESCO world heritage sites) should most definitely not be missed, as there are many breathtaking and wildly impressive granite carvings/buildings. Anyone visiting Chennai should absolutely find the time to visit Mahabalipuram.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Neelima
Dec 28, 2024
Amazing experience learning about the history of Mahabalipuram! - We had a fantastic time going around Mahabalipuram with Chandan! We would definitely recommend doing this tour if you love learning about art history because Chandan did a fabulous job of explaining about the art and history of Mahabalipuram to multiple age groups. He was very flexible throughout the day because of the needs of the multiple age groups. He was easy to communicate with before and during the tour because he has an easygoing demeanor. If we come back to Chennai, we would definitely do another tour with him because everyone in our group enjoyed learning and talking with him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
61vikashs
Dec 8, 2024
Comfortable Tour. Good experience. - Chandan was a great guide. He arrived on time to pick us up from our hotel and made us feel comfortable. Communication with him was easy, and he explained everything in detail, which made our trip more enjoyable. We were hoping for a bit more from the trip, but overall, it was a good experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
314purnimab
Nov 29, 2024
Amazing exploration of South Indian architecture and culture - We had an amazing time on the trip to the historical town of Mahabalipuram. The guides were super friendly and knowledgeable. From taking us to a quintessential breakfast spot (since we were hungry and open to a detour) to some of the most majestic and beautiful monolithic sculptures and temples in the world, it was jam packed with experiences that we’ll hold dear to us, forever. Thank you Chandan and SK for going above and beyond.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z9887rwchristinec
Nov 11, 2024
Great, informative guide - My guide was very knowledgeable! He was a professor and historian, and was able to provide interesting and detailed background on the site. He genuinely cared about sharing his knowledge and is very passionate about the art and history. He was able to share information I am certain I would not have heard from other guides!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
0siddharthm
Oct 18, 2024
Absolutely brilliant day out with Chandan to witness the spectacular art of Mahabalipuran - I spent a great day exploring Mahabalipuram with Chandan. Chandan is passionate about art & culture and gave me a great view of not only the temples themselves but of Tamil Nadu past & current. He is extremely engaging in the way he combines art, architecture, ancient history with modern interpretations. His food recommendations were spot on. He was extremely helpful arranging to deliver my forgotten backpack back to me late in the evening. Whenever I return to this part of the world I am definitely going on another tour with him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suketu_p
Oct 8, 2024
Great Day to Mahabalip[uram - Trip to Mahabalipuram was our most interesting experience. Our guide was very friendly and highly knowledgeable about the history . We recommend him unreservedly .
Review provided by Viator
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up to 4 guests
1 Adult
January 2025
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