Just a stone’s throw from the Mahabalipuram Bus Station, the Shore Temple stands as a silent sentinel overlooking the Bay of Bengal. This 7th-century Pallava masterpiece is a rare, granite-carved gem where Shiva and Vishnu reside together, offering a soulful glimpse into one of South India’s oldest structural wonders.
Nature’s mystery at its best! This is a 250-ton rock boulder known as Krishna’s Butterball in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. What’s the catch here? This immensely massive 20 feet high rock stands on a slippery slope of a hill on less than 4-feet base defying gravity. The position of the rock is so that it should have rolled down the slope however it does not. It is called Krishna’s butterball because butter is his favorite food. The local legend states that it fell from heaven hence also called the ‘Vaanirai Kal’ in Tamil which means ‘Stone of the Sky God’.
Pancha Rathas or the Pandava Rathas dates back to the 7th century reign of the Pallava dynasty. The five rathas are named ‘Dharmaraja Ratha’, ‘Bhima Ratha’, ‘Arjuna Ratha’, ‘Nakula Sahadeva Ratha’, and ‘Draupadi Ratha’ from ‘Mahabharata’. Each of the five structures is chiseled in the shape of rathas or chariots out of a large block of stone or monolith of granite. Although unfinished and never consecrated, these rathas that are often erroneously referred to as temples and are one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. The complex is entirely maintained under the patronage of the ‘Archaeological Survey of India’ (ASI) and has remained one of the famous Dravidian style architecture example.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this five-storeyed Dravidian marvel beautifully captures the artistic zenith of the ‘Group of Monuments.’ Whether you are a history buff or a sunset seeker, the Shore Temple’s salt-kissed walls and intricate carvings offer a timeless escape into India’s glorious, sea-facing architectural past.
How to reach :
By air: The nearest airport is Chennai, which is about 60 kilometers away as Mahabalipuram does not have an airport.
By train: The main train junction is Chengalpattu which is connected well to Chennai by express and mail trains. From the station, the Mahabalipuram beach is about only a distance of around 30 km by road.
Did you visit Mahabalipuram – what places did you like?
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Please travel responsibly and do not litter. Happy Travelling!
Ordo Ab Chao 
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