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Major city · India

Mamallapuramமாமல்லபுரம்

Give Mamallapuram one full day and one night: the rock-cut monuments are a half-day, the beach and cafés fill the rest. Two nights only if you surf or day-trip to Covelong.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) is a small coastal town 60 km south of Chennai, built around 7th–9th century Pallava granite carvings: the Five Rathas, cave temples, Arjuna's Penance and the Shore Temple, a UNESCO site. Everything sits within a 2 km walk of the bus stand. Most travellers come from Chennai on the East Coast Road for a day or one night; the town itself is tourist-facing, with guesthouses, seafood restaurants and sculpture workshops rather than a working Indian bazaar.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Nov–Feb
avoid Apr–Jun (hot and humid), Oct–Dec northeast monsoon rain
Airport
MAA
Nights
1
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Mamallapuram112 ▾
  • All services (police, fire, ambulance)112
  • Tourist police, Tamil Nadu1363

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mamallapuram, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeFilter coffee or chai₹15–40 (≈ under US$1)
  • Street or quick mealFresh coconut from a hawker₹30–50 (≈ under US$1)
  • Beer650 ml bottle in a restaurantOften not on the menu; ask.₹250–350 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person₹500 (≈ US$6)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room₹2,500 (≈ US$30)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room₹6,000 (≈ US$70)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,500 (≈ US$18) · Mid ₹3,500 (≈ US$40) · High ₹8,000 (≈ US$95)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Five Rathas (Pancha Pandava Rathas)Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage siteArjuna's Penance bas-reliefKrishna's ButterballStone sculpture workshops
Airports
MAA Chennai International (About 1 h off-peak, 1.5 h in peak traffic by taxi; ₹800–1,200)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    33°C (91°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    35°C (95°F)

  5. May

    Avoid

    37°C (99°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    36°C (97°F)

  7. Jul

    not flagged

    34°C (93°F)

  8. Aug

    not flagged

    33°C (91°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  10. Oct

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  11. Nov

    Care

    29°C (84°F)

  12. Dec

    Care

    28°C (82°F)

Best: Jan–Feb. Mixed: Nov–Dec. Avoid: Apr–Jun, Oct. Month by month →

Warmest May (37°C (99°F)), coolest Jan (21°C (70°F) low), wettest Oct (13 rain days), driest Feb (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mamallapuram: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

29°C (84°F)

21°C (70°F)

2 rd

Feb

31°C (88°F)

22°C (72°F)

1 rd

Mar

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

1 rd

Apr

35°C (95°F)

27°C (81°F)

2 rd

May

37°C (99°F)

28°C (82°F)

3 rd

Jun

36°C (97°F)

28°C (82°F)

5 rd

Jul

34°C (93°F)

26°C (79°F)

8 rd

Aug

33°C (91°F)

25°C (77°F)

9 rd

Sep

32°C (90°F)

25°C (77°F)

9 rd

Oct

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

13 rd

Nov

29°C (84°F)

23°C (73°F)

13 rd

Dec

28°C (82°F)

22°C (72°F)

8 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The whole monument cluster is walkable: Five Rathas to the Shore Temple is about 1.5 km, 20 minutes on foot. Bicycles and scooters are rented in town. A non-AC cab for about 2.5 hours covering the main sights runs around ₹150. Paid parking sits near the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Covelong (Kovalam)

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus or taxi north on the East Coast Road, about 15 min

Surf beach with schools and a fishing village; half a day.

Chennai (Tiruvanmiyur / CMBT)

go

Door to door: About 1.25 h

ECR bus from the town centre, under ₹40 (≈ under US$1), about 1 h

The ECR bus drops about 2 km (1.2 mi) outside town; rickshaws wait there.

Kanchipuram

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Direct bus from Mamallapuram bus stand

Temple town worth a half-day, but check the return bus times before you go.

Kalpakkam

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Taxi or bus south on the ECR

No public access to the nuclear site; only worth it if you have a specific reason.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Othavadai Street and Othavadai Cross

Guesthouse and café strip, 5–10 min walk to the beach and the Shore Temple; best for a first night.

East Raja Street / Shore Temple Road

Closer to the monument ticket gates and the bus stand; quieter, more hotels than hostels.

ECR beach resorts (north of town)

Pool resorts along the East Coast Road; you need a taxi or scooter for every meal and sight.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹1,200–2,500 (≈ US$14–30) excl. bed
Mid
₹2,500–5,000 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
High
₹5,000 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × ₹2,500₹2,500
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹3,500₹7,000
Monument ticket, foreign visitor2 × ₹300 · One ticket covers the main monuments for the day₹600
Monument ticket, Indian citizen2 × ₹30₹50
Local guide for the main sites1 × ₹600₹600
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹800₹1,600
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹1,240
Trip total≈ ₹6,800 per person per day, bed included₹13,590≈ US$160

2026 estimate in rupees; transport to Mamallapuram excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Filter coffee or chai₹15–40 (≈ under US$1)
Vegetarian thali lunch₹90–150 (≈ US$2)
Grilled fish with fries₹250–500 (≈ US$3–6)
Beer, 650 ml bottle in a restaurantOften not on the menu; ask.₹250–350 (≈ US$3–4)
Fresh coconut from a hawker₹30–50 (≈ under US$1)
Auto-rickshaw, short hop in townAgree the fare before you get in.₹30–100 (≈ US$1–2)
Bicycle or scooter rental, per day₹150–500 (≈ US$2–6)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Mamallapuram is a small, low-crime tourist town; the real annoyances are persistent guides, hawkers and heat. Use 112 for emergencies, keep small notes for tickets and rickshaws, and treat the sea with respect — currents are strong and lifeguards are only present with organised operators.
  • Guides cluster at every gate and will follow you; agree a price first or decline firmly.
  • Ticket counter closes 17:30 and monument entry ends 18:00.
  • The beach has strong currents and no lifeguards outside organised operators; swim with caution.
  • No government TASMAC liquor shop in town — buy alcohol before you arrive.
  • Orphanage visits pitched to tourists: check the organisation before donating.

Emergency numbers

All services (police, fire, ambulance)
112
Tourist police, Tamil Nadu
1363

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Mamallapuramமாமல்லபுரம்

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

இந்த முகவரிக்கு, தயவுசெய்துTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All services112
  • Tourist police, Tamil Nadu1363

Embassy

No embassies in Mamallapuram; most countries have embassies or consulates in Chennai or New Delhi. Check your own country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Chennai → Mamallapuram, ECR bus: under ₹40 (≈ under US$1), about 1 h
  • Taxi Chennai → Mamallapuram: ₹600–800 (≈ US$7–10) one-way
  • Taxi Chennai airport → Mamallapuram: ₹800–1,200 (≈ US$10–14), 1–1.5 h

Say or show

  • வணக்கம் — Hello / Vanakkam (vanakkam)
  • நன்றி — Thank you (nandri)
  • எவ்வளவு? — How much is it? (evvalavu)
  • வேண்டாம், நன்றி — No, thank you (vendaam, nandri)
  • பஸ் நிலையம் எங்கே? — Where is the bus stand? (bus nilaiyam enge)
  • சாப்பாடு நல்லா இருக்கு — The food is good (saappaadu nallaa irukku)

Foreign visitors pay the higher monument ticket; carry the passport or a photo of it.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mamallapuram. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Apr–Jun (hot and humid), Oct–Dec northeast monsoon rain · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources