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How to Reach Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram is an hour down the coast from Chennai, and its monuments are a UNESCO group carved out of the granite where it stands rather than built on it.

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Photograph: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
CHEAPEST WAY IN
₹1,774
from Chennai, 130 km
ROADS IN
273
cities we price a cab from
NEAREST AIRPORT
57.4 km
Chennai

Ways in, by road

FromDistanceDriveCab from
Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Pondicherrycrosses into Tamil Nadu130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Pallavaram, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Chromepet, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Guindy, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Velachery, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Vadapalani, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Porur, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
T Nagar, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Adyar, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Nungambakkam, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Perungudi, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Tambaram, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Anna Nagar, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Mylapore, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Thoraipakkam, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Egmore, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Kilpauk, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
OMR Sholinganallur, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Siruseri, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Ambattur, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Avadi, Chennai130 km2.5 hrs₹1,774See fare →
Vellore135.2 km2.5 hrs₹1,845See fare →
Chittoorcrosses into Tamil Nadu135.3 km2.5 hrs₹1,847See fare →
Arani137.5 km3 hrs₹1,877See fare →
Sullurpetacrosses into Tamil Nadu140.9 km3 hrs₹1,923See fare →
Panruti148.6 km3 hrs₹2,028See fare →
Tiruvannamalai150.2 km3 hrs₹2,050See fare →
Vadalur156.6 km3 hrs₹2,138See fare →
Polur160.4 km3 hrs₹2,189See fare →
Koothanallur163.3 km3.5 hrs₹2,229See fare →
Ulundurpettai166.1 km3.5 hrs₹2,267See fare →
Gudiyatham167.3 km3.5 hrs₹2,284See fare →
Chidambaram168.3 km3.5 hrs₹2,297See fare →
Kilvelur171.5 km3.5 hrs₹2,341See fare →
Naidupetcrosses into Tamil Nadu175 km3.5 hrs₹2,389See fare →
Tirupaticrosses into Tamil Nadu177.7 km3.5 hrs₹2,426See fare →
Tirukoilur179.6 km3.5 hrs₹2,452See fare →
Mannargudi182.8 km3.5 hrs₹2,495See fare →
Gudurcrosses into Tamil Nadu184.2 km3.5 hrs₹2,514See fare →
Ambur184.9 km3.5 hrs₹2,524See fare →
Pernampattu185.7 km3.5 hrs₹2,535See fare →
Sirkazhi190.2 km4 hrs₹2,596See fare →
Srikalahasticrosses into Tamil Nadu191.9 km4 hrs₹2,619See fare →
Palamanercrosses into Tamil Nadu196.3 km4 hrs₹2,680See fare →
Virudhachalam199.8 km4 hrs₹2,727See fare →
Vaniyambadi200.7 km4 hrs₹2,740See fare →
Venkatagiricrosses into Tamil Nadu207.8 km4 hrs₹2,836See fare →
Mayiladuthurai208.7 km4 hrs₹2,849See fare →
Krishnagiri221.2 km4.5 hrs₹3,019See fare →
Kulithalai221.5 km4.5 hrs₹3,023See fare →
Tirupattur223.3 km4.5 hrs₹3,048See fare →
Punganurcrosses into Tamil Nadu224.1 km4.5 hrs₹3,059See fare →
Karur226 km4.5 hrs₹3,085See fare →
Ariyalur230.9 km4.5 hrs₹3,152See fare →
Mulbagalcrosses into Tamil Nadu233.7 km4.5 hrs₹3,190See fare →
Perambalur233.9 km4.5 hrs₹3,193See fare →
Karaikalcrosses into Tamil Nadu234 km4.5 hrs₹3,194See fare →
Nellorecrosses into Tamil Nadu235.1 km4.5 hrs₹3,209See fare →
Manapparai236.6 km4.5 hrs₹3,230See fare →
Harur244.2 km5 hrs₹3,333See fare →
Madanapallecrosses into Tamil Nadu244.4 km5 hrs₹3,336See fare →
Kolar Gold Fieldscrosses into Tamil Nadu244.8 km5 hrs₹3,342See fare →
Kuppamcrosses into Tamil Nadu250.7 km5 hrs₹3,422See fare →
Kolarcrosses into Tamil Nadu251 km5 hrs₹3,426See fare →
Rajampetcrosses into Tamil Nadu253.5 km5 hrs₹3,460See fare →
Thiruvarur268.7 km5.5 hrs₹3,668See fare →
Nagapattinam275.7 km5.5 hrs₹3,763See fare →
Karaikudi277.1 km5.5 hrs₹3,782See fare →
Thuraiyur287.7 km6 hrs₹3,927See fare →
Thanjavur288.1 km6 hrs₹3,933See fare →
Kavalicrosses into Tamil Nadu289.3 km6 hrs₹3,949See fare →
Musiri289.3 km6 hrs₹3,949See fare →
Dharmapuri290 km6 hrs₹3,958See fare →
Thiruthuraipoondi291.4 km6 hrs₹3,978See fare →
Salem292.9 km6 hrs₹3,998See fare →
Trichy296.1 km6 hrs₹4,042See fare →
Kadapacrosses into Tamil Nadu298.7 km6 hrs₹4,077See fare →
Hoskotecrosses into Tamil Nadu298.9 km6 hrs₹4,080See fare →
Thirupathur303.2 km6 hrs₹4,139See fare →
Adhirampattinam304.4 km6 hrs₹4,155See fare →
Vedaranyam305.8 km6 hrs₹4,174See fare →
Pattukkottai306 km6 hrs₹4,177See fare →
Thuvakudi306.1 km6 hrs₹4,178See fare →
Rasipuram307.7 km6 hrs₹4,200See fare →
Kangeyam312.5 km6.5 hrs₹4,266See fare →
Bangalorecrosses into Tamil Nadu324.5 km6.5 hrs₹4,429See fare →
Mettur329.8 km6.5 hrs₹4,502See fare →
Tharamangalam330 km6.5 hrs₹4,504See fare →
Kadiricrosses into Tamil Nadu330.3 km6.5 hrs₹4,509See fare →
Badvelcrosses into Tamil Nadu332.4 km6.5 hrs₹4,537See fare →
Kandukurcrosses into Tamil Nadu334.7 km6.5 hrs₹4,569See fare →
Mohanur335.6 km6.5 hrs₹4,581See fare →
Nanjangudcrosses into Tamil Nadu337.8 km7 hrs₹4,611See fare →
Namakkal339.5 km7 hrs₹4,634See fare →
Manamadurai340.8 km7 hrs₹4,652See fare →
Doddaballapuracrosses into Tamil Nadu341.8 km7 hrs₹4,666See fare →
Sankagiri348.3 km7 hrs₹4,754See fare →
Edappadi349 km7 hrs₹4,764See fare →
Pulivendulacrosses into Tamil Nadu349.1 km7 hrs₹4,765See fare →
Chikkaballapurcrosses into Tamil Nadu350.9 km7 hrs₹4,790See fare →
Proddaturcrosses into Tamil Nadu351.4 km7 hrs₹4,797See fare →
Gauribidanurcrosses into Tamil Nadu355.4 km7 hrs₹4,851See fare →
Pudukkottai358.3 km7 hrs₹4,891See fare →
Tiruchengode360.2 km7 hrs₹4,917See fare →
Ongolecrosses into Tamil Nadu363.9 km7.5 hrs₹4,967See fare →
Karumathampatti367.6 km7.5 hrs₹5,018See fare →
Ramanagaracrosses into Tamil Nadu371.5 km7.5 hrs₹5,071See fare →
Erode372 km7.5 hrs₹5,078See fare →
Jammalamadugucrosses into Tamil Nadu375.4 km7.5 hrs₹5,124See fare →
Aranthangi379.5 km7.5 hrs₹5,180See fare →
Pugalur380.3 km7.5 hrs₹5,191See fare →
Hindupurcrosses into Tamil Nadu380.4 km7.5 hrs₹5,192See fare →
Kanakapuracrosses into Tamil Nadu381.6 km7.5 hrs₹5,209See fare →
Madhugiricrosses into Tamil Nadu392 km8 hrs₹5,351See fare →
Puttaparthicrosses into Tamil Nadu392.1 km8 hrs₹5,352See fare →
Karamadai392.5 km8 hrs₹5,358See fare →
Perundurai396.4 km8 hrs₹5,411See fare →
Gobichettipalayam400 km8 hrs₹5,460See fare →
Attur408.6 km8 hrs₹5,577See fare →
Tadipatricrosses into Tamil Nadu408.6 km8 hrs₹5,577See fare →
Dharmavaramcrosses into Tamil Nadu409.7 km8 hrs₹5,592See fare →
Bhavani411.9 km8 hrs₹5,622See fare →
Vadipatti419.1 km8.5 hrs₹5,721See fare →
Oddanchatram419.2 km8.5 hrs₹5,722See fare →
Sivaganga420.9 km8.5 hrs₹5,745See fare →
Madurai421.2 km8.5 hrs₹5,749See fare →
Melur422.6 km8.5 hrs₹5,768See fare →
Chiralacrosses into Tamil Nadu422.7 km8.5 hrs₹5,770See fare →
Kovilpatti423.4 km8.5 hrs₹5,779See fare →
Nandyalcrosses into Tamil Nadu425.7 km8.5 hrs₹5,811See fare →
Anantapurcrosses into Tamil Nadu426 km8.5 hrs₹5,815See fare →
Sathyamangalam428.5 km8.5 hrs₹5,849See fare →
Siracrosses into Tamil Nadu428.8 km8.5 hrs₹5,853See fare →
Tumakurucrosses into Tamil Nadu429.1 km8.5 hrs₹5,857See fare →
Pavagadacrosses into Tamil Nadu430.6 km8.5 hrs₹5,878See fare →
Avinashi431.9 km8.5 hrs₹5,895See fare →
Chilakaluripetcrosses into Tamil Nadu434.4 km8.5 hrs₹5,930See fare →
Punjai Puliampatti439 km9 hrs₹5,992See fare →
Bapatlacrosses into Tamil Nadu439.1 km9 hrs₹5,994See fare →
Palani441.8 km9 hrs₹6,031See fare →
Vinukondacrosses into Tamil Nadu443.7 km9 hrs₹6,057See fare →
Kattappanacrosses into Tamil Nadu445.2 km9 hrs₹6,077See fare →
Palladam445.5 km9 hrs₹6,081See fare →
Mandyacrosses into Tamil Nadu448.3 km9 hrs₹6,119See fare →
Vellakoil448.5 km9 hrs₹6,122See fare →
Thirumangalam451 km9 hrs₹6,156See fare →
Periyakulam453.1 km9 hrs₹6,185See fare →
Dharapuram453.3 km9 hrs₹6,188See fare →
Usilampatti455.1 km9 hrs₹6,212See fare →
Narasaraopetcrosses into Tamil Nadu458.4 km9 hrs₹6,257See fare →
Ponnurcrosses into Tamil Nadu459.4 km9 hrs₹6,271See fare →
Paramakudi460.6 km9 hrs₹6,287See fare →
Kollegalcrosses into Tamil Nadu462.2 km9 hrs₹6,309See fare →
Markapurcrosses into Tamil Nadu463.4 km9.5 hrs₹6,325See fare →
Ramanathapuram465.1 km9.5 hrs₹6,349See fare →
Mysorecrosses into Tamil Nadu467.5 km9.5 hrs₹6,381See fare →
Theni469.4 km9.5 hrs₹6,407See fare →
Tipturcrosses into Tamil Nadu470.5 km9.5 hrs₹6,422See fare →
Mettupalayam471.3 km9.5 hrs₹6,433See fare →
Sattenapallecrosses into Tamil Nadu476.9 km9.5 hrs₹6,510See fare →
Coimbatore477.4 km9.5 hrs₹6,517See fare →
Kadayanallur477.5 km9.5 hrs₹6,518See fare →
Gunturcrosses into Tamil Nadu477.7 km9.5 hrs₹6,521See fare →
Mannarkkadcrosses into Tamil Nadu478.2 km9.5 hrs₹6,527See fare →
Kodaikanal479.3 km9.5 hrs₹6,542See fare →
Pidugurallacrosses into Tamil Nadu481.5 km9.5 hrs₹6,572See fare →
Sengottai481.6 km9.5 hrs₹6,574See fare →
Repallecrosses into Tamil Nadu483.4 km9.5 hrs₹6,598See fare →
Bodinayakanur483.8 km9.5 hrs₹6,604See fare →
Tenalicrosses into Tamil Nadu484.9 km9.5 hrs₹6,619See fare →
Hiriyurcrosses into Tamil Nadu485.3 km9.5 hrs₹6,624See fare →
Guntakalcrosses into Tamil Nadu489.3 km10 hrs₹6,679See fare →
Udumalaipettai490.2 km10 hrs₹6,691See fare →
Chamarajanagarcrosses into Tamil Nadu491.1 km10 hrs₹6,704See fare →
Pollachi491.4 km10 hrs₹6,708See fare →
Chinnamanur494.5 km10 hrs₹6,750See fare →
Virudhunagar494.5 km10 hrs₹6,750See fare →
Kurnoolcrosses into Tamil Nadu497 km10 hrs₹6,784See fare →
Aruppukkottai497.7 km10 hrs₹6,794See fare →
Irinjalakudacrosses into Tamil Nadu498.7 km10 hrs₹6,807See fare →
Sattur502.3 km10 hrs₹6,856See fare →
Arsikerecrosses into Tamil Nadu502.5 km10 hrs₹6,859See fare →
Palakkadcrosses into Tamil Nadu503.2 km10 hrs₹6,869See fare →
Uthamapalayam506.1 km10 hrs₹6,908See fare →
Hunsurcrosses into Tamil Nadu507.6 km10 hrs₹6,929See fare →
Vijayawadacrosses into Tamil Nadu512.7 km10.5 hrs₹6,998See fare →
Rameswaram513.6 km10.5 hrs₹7,011See fare →
Coonoor514.7 km10.5 hrs₹7,026See fare →
Ooty515 km10.5 hrs₹7,030See fare →
Srivilliputhur517.8 km10.5 hrs₹7,068See fare →
Hassancrosses into Tamil Nadu518.5 km10.5 hrs₹7,078See fare →
Gudalur Theni520.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,099See fare →
Kodungallurcrosses into Tamil Nadu522.2 km10.5 hrs₹7,128See fare →
Gundlupetcrosses into Tamil Nadu522.7 km10.5 hrs₹7,135See fare →
Malappuramcrosses into Tamil Nadu522.7 km10.5 hrs₹7,135See fare →
Thekkadycrosses into Tamil Nadu523.3 km10.5 hrs₹7,143See fare →
Manjericrosses into Tamil Nadu524.5 km10.5 hrs₹7,159See fare →
Ballaricrosses into Tamil Nadu525.4 km10.5 hrs₹7,172See fare →
Kottakkalcrosses into Tamil Nadu526.3 km10.5 hrs₹7,184See fare →
Channapatnacrosses into Tamil Nadu526.5 km10.5 hrs₹7,187See fare →
Idappadicrosses into Tamil Nadu526.7 km10.5 hrs₹7,189See fare →
Machilipatnamcrosses into Tamil Nadu528.8 km10.5 hrs₹7,218See fare →
Challakerecrosses into Tamil Nadu529 km10.5 hrs₹7,221See fare →
Kothamangalamcrosses into Tamil Nadu529.3 km10.5 hrs₹7,225See fare →
Kayalpattinam530 km10.5 hrs₹7,234See fare →
Kottayamcrosses into Tamil Nadu531.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,250See fare →
Rajapalayam534.1 km10.5 hrs₹7,290See fare →
Kalamasserycrosses into Tamil Nadu537.5 km11 hrs₹7,337See fare →
Koothattukulamcrosses into Tamil Nadu538.9 km11 hrs₹7,356See fare →
Kondottycrosses into Tamil Nadu539.6 km11 hrs₹7,366See fare →
Chitradurgacrosses into Tamil Nadu539.7 km11 hrs₹7,367See fare →
Srisailamcrosses into Tamil Nadu541.2 km11 hrs₹7,387See fare →
Miryalagudacrosses into Tamil Nadu542.3 km11 hrs₹7,402See fare →
Gudivadacrosses into Tamil Nadu545.6 km11 hrs₹7,447See fare →
Sankarankoil545.8 km11 hrs₹7,450See fare →
Huzurnagarcrosses into Tamil Nadu547.4 km11 hrs₹7,472See fare →
Adonicrosses into Tamil Nadu547.7 km11 hrs₹7,476See fare →
Rayachoticrosses into Tamil Nadu549.8 km11 hrs₹7,505See fare →
Kushalnagarcrosses into Tamil Nadu550.7 km11 hrs₹7,517See fare →
Yemmiganurcrosses into Tamil Nadu553.7 km11 hrs₹7,558See fare →
Ottappalamcrosses into Tamil Nadu554.2 km11 hrs₹7,565See fare →
Valparai555 km11 hrs₹7,576See fare →
Tenkasi555.6 km11 hrs₹7,584See fare →
Nuzvidcrosses into Tamil Nadu556 km11 hrs₹7,589See fare →
Kadurcrosses into Tamil Nadu557.7 km11 hrs₹7,613See fare →
Gadwalcrosses into Tamil Nadu558.1 km11 hrs₹7,618See fare →
Munnarcrosses into Tamil Nadu559.4 km11 hrs₹7,636See fare →
Irittycrosses into Tamil Nadu559.6 km11 hrs₹7,639See fare →
Koduvallycrosses into Tamil Nadu559.6 km11 hrs₹7,639See fare →
Mananthavadycrosses into Tamil Nadu559.6 km11 hrs₹7,639See fare →
Kottarakkaracrosses into Tamil Nadu559.7 km11 hrs₹7,640See fare →
Puliyangudi560 km11 hrs₹7,644See fare →
Cherpulasserycrosses into Tamil Nadu562.8 km11.5 hrs₹7,682See fare →
Sakleshpurcrosses into Tamil Nadu563.6 km11.5 hrs₹7,693See fare →
Kodadcrosses into Tamil Nadu563.8 km11.5 hrs₹7,696See fare →
Wanaparthycrosses into Tamil Nadu564.7 km11.5 hrs₹7,708See fare →
Mavelikkaracrosses into Tamil Nadu565 km11.5 hrs₹7,712See fare →
Thrissurcrosses into Tamil Nadu567.8 km11.5 hrs₹7,750See fare →
Virajpetcrosses into Tamil Nadu567.9 km11.5 hrs₹7,752See fare →
Shoranurcrosses into Tamil Nadu568.5 km11.5 hrs₹7,760See fare →
Belurcrosses into Tamil Nadu568.8 km11.5 hrs₹7,764See fare →
Kanhangadcrosses into Tamil Nadu569.1 km11.5 hrs₹7,768See fare →
Koothuparambacrosses into Tamil Nadu569.1 km11.5 hrs₹7,768See fare →
Koyilandycrosses into Tamil Nadu569.1 km11.5 hrs₹7,768See fare →
Mattannurcrosses into Tamil Nadu569.1 km11.5 hrs₹7,768See fare →
Gudalur, Nilgiris571.4 km11.5 hrs₹7,800See fare →
Elurucrosses into Tamil Nadu573.2 km11.5 hrs₹7,824See fare →
Tarikerecrosses into Tamil Nadu573.6 km11.5 hrs₹7,830See fare →
Kalakkad575.2 km11.5 hrs₹7,851See fare →
Chikmagalurcrosses into Tamil Nadu576.3 km11.5 hrs₹7,866See fare →
Sabarimalacrosses into Tamil Nadu576.4 km11.5 hrs₹7,868See fare →
Sandurcrosses into Tamil Nadu577.9 km11.5 hrs₹7,888See fare →
Suryapetcrosses into Tamil Nadu577.9 km11.5 hrs₹7,888See fare →
Vagamoncrosses into Tamil Nadu578.2 km11.5 hrs₹7,892See fare →
Perinthalmannacrosses into Tamil Nadu579.8 km11.5 hrs₹7,914See fare →
Coorgcrosses into Tamil Nadu580.2 km11.5 hrs₹7,920See fare →
Siruguppacrosses into Tamil Nadu581.3 km11.5 hrs₹7,935See fare →
Sulthan Batherycrosses into Tamil Nadu582.3 km11.5 hrs₹7,948See fare →
Thoothukudi584.6 km11.5 hrs₹7,980See fare →
Pattambicrosses into Tamil Nadu585.9 km11.5 hrs₹7,998See fare →
Gangavathicrosses into Tamil Nadu586.2 km11.5 hrs₹8,002See fare →
Kollamcrosses into Tamil Nadu586.4 km11.5 hrs₹8,004See fare →
Hosapetecrosses into Tamil Nadu586.7 km11.5 hrs₹8,008See fare →
Channagiricrosses into Tamil Nadu587.7 km12 hrs₹8,022See fare →
Hampicrosses into Tamil Nadu588.6 km12 hrs₹8,034See fare →
Nalgondacrosses into Tamil Nadu588.7 km12 hrs₹8,036See fare →
Valancherycrosses into Tamil Nadu591 km12 hrs₹8,067See fare →
Davangerecrosses into Tamil Nadu591.9 km12 hrs₹8,079See fare →
Bhimavaramcrosses into Tamil Nadu594.7 km12 hrs₹8,118See fare →
Karunagappallycrosses into Tamil Nadu595.9 km12 hrs₹8,134See fare →
Kayamkulamcrosses into Tamil Nadu598.1 km12 hrs₹8,164See fare →
Bhadravaticrosses into Tamil Nadu598.8 km12 hrs₹8,174See fare →

If you are flying

What the road asks of you

A round trip here is billed by the day, not the kilometre

A return journey is charged for at least 250 km per day, because the car stays with you for the whole trip rather than picking up another fare. This route is 130 km each way, so 260 km of driving over 3 days is still billed as 750 km. On a short trip that floor is most of the fare, and two one-way journeys can work out cheaper — worth comparing both before you book.

This route crosses into Tamil Nadu

Leaving Karnataka for Tamil Nadu means a state permit. Whether you pay it depends on the fare you pick: a toll-included fare has it inside, and nothing is collected at the border; the cheaper fare leaves it out, and it is handed over at the checkpost. The amount is set by Tamil Nadu, not by us, and the receipt is theirs.

What is there

Shore Temple

The 8th-century temple at the water's edge, the one on every photograph.

Pancha Rathas

Five monolithic shrines, each cut from a single rock.

Arjuna's Penance

A vast relief carved across two boulders.

Krishna's Butterball

The balanced boulder on the slope above the town.

Cave temples

Rock-cut mandapas scattered across the hill behind the village.

Worth knowing before you go

  • The monuments are spread across a walkable town, but the granite and the coast are hot and open.
  • It is a day trip from Chennai on the ECR — the drive is short enough that the fare's minimum applies.

Questions people ask

What is the cheapest way to reach Mahabalipuram by cab?+

From Chennai — 130 km, about 2.5 hrs, from ₹1,774 for the whole car.

Which is the nearest airport to Mahabalipuram?+

Chennai International Airport, 57.4 km away, from ₹1,386 by cab.

Is a cab fare to Mahabalipuram per person or for the car?+

For the car. The fare is the same whether one person travels or the car is full.

Anything to know about the road to Mahabalipuram?+

A return journey is charged for at least 250 km per day, because the car stays with you for the whole trip rather than picking up another fare. This route is 130 km each way, so 260 km of driving over 3 days is still billed as 750 km. On a short trip that floor is most of the fare, and two one-way journeys can work out cheaper — worth comparing both before you book.

From Mahabalipuram