Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram: Pallava Temples Day Tour from Chennai

Two Thousand Years of Stone & Sea: Pallava Temples South of Chennai

You visit two Pallava capitals in one day: Kanchipuram's ancient temples first, then Mahabalipuram's rock-cut monuments and the 8th-century Shore Temple by the sea. Hotel pickup, a local guide, lunch, and all entry fees are included. The full day means you see both towns without arranging transport or timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit temples in Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram

• Visit Ekambareswarar temple
• Visit Kailasanathar temple
• Explore Panch Rathas rock cut temples
• See Arjuna’s Penance bas relief
• View Krishna’s Butterball boulder
• Visit the Shore temple

The experience

Granite blocks stacked in the 8th century catch the morning light the same way they did when ships sailed past them toward Southeast Asia. The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram still stands at the water's edge, one of seven temples Marco Polo once saw here: the only one that survived. Your day starts with hotel pickup from Chennai, then heads south toward two towns that hold the entire story of how Indian architecture learned to stop carving into rock and start building in stone. Kanchipuram was the capital. Mahabalipuram was the port.

The tour moves through Kanchipuram first, where the Ekambareswar Temple rises from the 600s AD, built during the Pallava dynasty when this city ruled the coast. Your guide (trained locally and employed by the operator) walks you through the temple's stone work and explains how the Pallavas invented the shift from rock-cut monuments to freestanding structures. The Kailasanath Temple sits nearby, another 600 AD masterpiece, quieter and less crowded. After lunch (included, eaten locally), the drive to Mahabalipuram takes about an hour through villages and past rice fields. The landscape flattens as you approach the sea.

Mahabalipuram spreads across a hillside facing the ocean, and the stops come in sequence. The Five Rathas (five monolith temples carved from single boulders, each one dedicated to a Pandava brother from the Mahabharata) sit like sculptures in a garden. Arjuna's Penance, a 100-by-45-foot bas relief carved into the rock face, tells the entire story of the epic in stone. Krishna's Butterball, a five-meter granite sphere balanced on a slope, sits nearby and genuinely looks like it should roll downhill but doesn't. The Shore Temple closes the day: eight centuries old, made of granite blocks, and the reason sailors knew where the port was. All entry fees are covered. The guide handles the pacing and the history. You show up dressed with knees and shoulders covered (required for temple entry), and the car brings you back to Chennai by evening.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Chennai, a full-time local guide, private car transport, lunch at a local restaurant, and entrance fees to all temples and monuments: Ekambareswar, Kailasanath, Five Rathas, Arjuna's Penance, Krishna's Butterball, and the Shore Temple. GST is also included.

Before you book

Lasts 12h, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 135 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by 5 Senses Walks

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see both Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram's Pallava temples in one day without arranging your own transport or entry tickets: the fixed itinerary and guide handle the pacing and history. Plan for a full day out (roughly 10 to 11 hours with pickup and return), which is what makes visiting both towns possible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

How long is the drive from Chennai to Mahabalipuram?

About one hour each way from the city center.

What should I wear to visit the temples?

Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Failure to comply may result in refused entry.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Yes, lunch is included and eaten locally during the day.

What are the Five Rathas?

Five monolith temples carved from single rock boulders, each dedicated to one of the five Pandava brothers from the Mahabharata epic.

Is the guide a local?

Yes. The operator trains and employs local guides and supports local businesses.

What is Arjuna's Penance?

A 100-by-45-foot bas relief carved into rock, depicting the entire Mahabharata story in stone.

Is the operator certified?

Yes, it is approved by the Ministry of Tourism and is a member of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup occurs in the morning. The tour returns by evening. Exact times depend on your hotel location.