Mahabalipuram – A superb Weekend getaway

Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram is 60km south off Chennai in Kancheepuram district in Tamilnadu and just a few hours drive from Bangalore.  It makes for a superb weekend destination, with its ancient history and amazing view, this place is full an awe inspiring sight. 

Kancheepuram is on the way to Mahabalipuram, it is known for its temples and most of all the world renowned Kancheevaram saris. It is a petite place with huge and stunning temples and a minimal crowd which come as a welcome relief. The shopkeepers are eager to please you and if you are the six yard fan you will love it. 

Once you reach Mahabalipuram you might want to plan your visits and so that you reach the shore temple around the sunset time. The temple closes at around 6pm and hence the timing has to be perfect. The beach is the next best to visit as it is right next to the shore temple. Along the short walk to the beach it’s a shoppers paradise with a variety of conch shells and jewelry at your fingertips, bargaining is necessary. There is a wide variety of fishes for the sea food lover, all made with the local masalas. The beach is a stretch crowded by shops and people, it’s an experience to wash yourself with the sea water to play along the waves with the temple as your backdrop.

The town in itself doesn’t have much, but there is a wide array of options for the shopping thirsty, Foreigners throng the town and hence a variety of food is available which includes English breakfasts.

The temples are known world over for their monoliths and the intricacy and ingenuity can be witnessed in the variety of the rock cut architecture. The Pallava sensibility is visible in the temples.

There is the Varaha cave, the Mahishasuramardhini cave and the famous Pancha Pandava Rathas which includes the Yudhishtara Ratha , Bhima Ratha , Arjuna Ratha Nakula – Sahadeva ratha and the Draupadi Ratha .

As you engage yourself on the journey you see the Arjunas penance one of the relief carvings. Arjuna’s penance depicted on the bas relief is known for its splendid narrative and its sculptural significance, it is a ‘continuous narrative’ with the story from the one of the greatest epics of all time “Mahabharata”

The visit at last - if possible should be the shore temple with its never changing  appeal the sound of the waves beating against the beach the hustle bustle of the markets nearby , the setting sun , all this and more will help complete the trip. The grandeur of the Pallava kings their artistic bend and perseverance is evident. There is a line of Nandi (vehicle of lord Shiva) along the compound of the temple complex very similar to the Bruhadeshwara temple at Tanjore. The shore temple looks its magnificent best in the setting sun; the color of the sun on the texture of the rock is an almost dreamlike experience.

The shore temple is known to have been reassembled from the sea after it was washed off in the cyclone. The tsunami waves are also known to have brought some of the hidden sculptures to life. Its an experience you are not bound to forget easily.

Getting there -

There are plenty of buses and trains available to Chennai from where one can board a bus to Mahablipuram. If you are driving down in your own transport, it is a pleasant drive to the place from Bangalore, now with the highways maintained, the only painful part will be the Hosur road which you will have to take initially to go via Krishnagiri where you take a turn to the NH46, from there its just one straight road to Chennai. The drive on the whole will take about 6 hours and mainly uneventful, the east coast road is the scenic best and not worth missing, running along the beach, the blue of the sea consumes you even when at a distance, try and plan this stretch at sunrise or sunset just to add a bit more to your trip, a few tender coconut pit stops are needed with the ever rising temperatures as you enter into the Tamil domain. The coconut groves lush and green and the Casuarina trees [known as ‘Chouk Sabuku’ in Tamil] will welcome you into this small, wonder of a town.

Extra Info:

The weather is extreme heat and light cotton clothes advisable.

Carry lots of drinking water.

A quick read on its history will give a better picture.

There are lots of stay options from cheap stay options to the costly places.

Mahabalipuram is about 60 km to the south of Chennai.

The nearest airport is the Chennai airport.

Life On The Road ...

Life is one hell of a journey and everyone knows that. This journey is filled with ups and downs, for some people its as calm as a placid lake, for some its a roller coaster all the way. But what makes life worth what it is ? what makes this journey memorable and defined with little highlighted spots of awesome moments? its travel. Travel can help one look into one's inner most feelings, into one's soul. Travel helps expand the mind and ease the vision.

The Best thing about travel is that its not just a way to kill time, its always an experience that is remembered, if fondly because the trip went well or with disgrace because everything went for a toss. But it is always remembered. It helps friends and family bond better and understand each other and oneself better ...

So here is to the road ... may it never end and may the journey continue ...


Parinitha Konanur

Off Season Goa - A Treat

I had been to Goa a couple of times, it is one of the most popular destinations in India. The idea of Goa I had before going there for the first time is that it would be full of carnivals, very less green and loads of musicians and beaches with Hippies and colour. I was pleasantly surprised, apart from the thronging beaches , for which it is well know, the small streets are lined with trees everywhere, moss ridden walls, palms and little shops, Portuguese style houses lined up as a treat for the eye, all this and more can be experienced just riding around on the bikes.

I have been there during New years, during post monsoon and this time in peak monsoon. The difference in it all, is awesome. During new years there is a large Mumbai and Bangalore crowd, traffic jams at the mouth of the beach, people parading everywhere,  one needs to stand on a higher platform to just be able to view the ocean, hearing the waves is out of question as the "Goa Trance" will be piercing through the beaches non stop.

Off season Goa is a completely different experience, rain lashes out, roads wet, beaches free of people, shops closed and very little music from the few restaurants that are open. We went to Arambol and just stayed put over there. Arambol has a stretch of sand and a cluster of rock structures amidst the ocean, making it a visual delight.




To experience the true Goa one must visit it at least once in their life during off season. The room rates are real low, almost next to nothing shopping experience , but the peace and calm will compensate with all things missed. Its as good as your own private beach. But the rain can be really heavy with almost, through the day downpour. This is best if you would like to sit back with a book and keep ordering some fenny and fish. which sits perfectly well with me.

The over hanging clouds, rain, green, ocean waves continuously lashing against the rocks and more to be experienced and all this at an affordable cost.

Parinitha Konanur

Home Stays and more in South India ...

Travel options have been increasing and changing in the recent past, more the travelers more the options one gets, with all the hotels and lodges and resorts, the new stay option that has become most of the traveler’s favourite choice are the Home Stays. What started out as an idea, where people with extra space rented it out to travelers, is now becoming an important part of the travel business. However it is the best way to sink into the place as one gets to live with a local family, share their experiences with them, learn about the place and also get to eat delicious local cuisines. Homestays are good for those who prefer some privacy and would love to meet locals, listen to some of the legends of the place, even learn to cook some of the local delicacies.

        Most of these Homestays provide decent lodging, fresh linens, clean toilets and if you are lucky even a splendid view and most of them don’t have over the top rates. Making homestays one of the best options for a variety of travelers, from luxury and serenity seeking ones to the backpackers. Homestays work well for corporate team outings, group of college going youngsters etc as most of the hosts are more than happy to arrange bonfires, cook meals according to the tastes of the visitors and all this at a decent rate. 

       South India is swarming with many destinations with a variety of Homestay options, the leading destinations are Coorg in Karnataka and many places in Kerala including Wayanad, Munnar, Thekadi, Kottayam, Kumarakom etc.

      Homestays present good opportunities for travelers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts as they can enquire about weather forecasts, best transport options, where to find particular wildlife and such information after befriending the hosts, who are generally more than happy to help.

Backpacking in India – what to pack

The best way to see India is by backpacking across it. There is no one destination lesser than the other, there are just too many places and none can be missed. But covering the entire nation this big could be difficult , then what is the best way to see it for what it is, to sense the vibrations of the country to take in the minutest details? It is by backpacking.

Backpacking in India can be both awesome and invigorating, it will provide you with a superb way to interact with the locals try local cuisines and take in the place.

Hence when you plan your trip make sure you packed the right things. India being a country with tropical climate, cotton is the best thing to carry, so Cotton pants, cotton Shirts, cotton T-Shirts, Kurtis whatever will do.

With this always add some rain gear, for most parts of India a good Poncho and water proof shoes should do the trick. Carry a foldable umbrella if you feel the need. For cold, one sweater/jacket or shawl will do the trick. Most places in India are well connected with buses and trains, [for trains read our previous blog too].

Carry one cotton dupatta or long length of cloth, it will help you prevent the sun, or cold or you can even put it on the pillow while dozing off in the train, roll it and use it like a pillow while waiting for a bus. Always carry sun shades with UV protection and sun screen lotion with +15 SPF.

Carry loose change, auto rickshaws, local buses and small shops do not accept cards, they will also not have change for bigger denominations, so make it easier and carry change. Carry polythene bags and cover all your clothes with polythene bags, in the monsoons the rains can hit even the driest regions, if not for the rains at least for the buses and trains wrap all your stuff in polythene bags, as there might be slush on the roads or water leakage in trains or even against dirt it will help.

Carry a torch, a multiple sided adapter to charge your phones, camera batteries or ipods as most low budget hotels, hostels and rooms will have only one plug point. Carry thin cotton towels, don’t bother to carry big shampoos and soaps, most things are available everywhere. Put in a pair of Hawai chappals or floaters. Carry one or two books or magazines, that you can flip through while awaiting your train or bus, dump some chocolates and biscuits into the bag and you are ready to go.

Don’t carry too much clothing, keep your bag light and easy to carry.