Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 472 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company worth booking?
Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company is a 7-hour experience in Chennai, India, from $85 per person. It scores 93 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “90+ Club”, based on a 5/5 rating across 472 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
- Outty Ranking
- 93 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (472)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $85 per person
When Marco Polo sailed past this coastline in the 13th century he recorded seeing a city of seven pagodas rising above the sea. Only one still stands. Archaeologists have found the others submerged offshore. The Pallava
What you get
- Pick and drop to Chennai hotel
- Lunch
- Entrance charges
- Professional tour guide
About this experience
When Marco Polo sailed past this coastline in the 13th century he recorded seeing a city of seven pagodas rising above the sea. Only one still stands. Archaeologists have found the others submerged offshore. The Pallava kings of the 7th and 8th centuries carved an entire world from the boulders here — five Mahabharata chariots from single rocks, a hundred-foot bas-relief with a satirical cat imitating a holy man while mice gather around it, a five-metre boulder balanced on a slope for thirteen centuries that a British administrator failed to move with an elephant, and the Shore Temple still reflecting in the Bay of Bengal at high tide. Our private Mahabalipuram tour from Chennai covers all of it with a cultural guide who brings every stone to life. Private car, expert guide, all entry fees and lunch included. 5 Senses Tours is recognised by the Department of Tourism, a winner of the Outlook Responsible Tourism Award and the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award.
What's included
Included
- Pick and drop to Chennai hotel
- Lunch
- Entrance charges
- Professional tour guide
Not included
- Beverages
What you'll see and do
Pancha Rathas
Make the first stop of the day at the Pancharathas, or five chariots, a series of monolithic temples built by the Pallavas.These are rock cut monolith temples structures built in the 7th century. Each of the 5 rathas or chariots are dedicated to the lead cast of the Mahabharat epic- Draupadi, Arjuna, Nakul-Sahadeva, Bhima and Yudhister. There is also a sculpture of an elephant next to the ratha of Nakul-Sahadeva. Once you stand towards the rear of the elephant you will notice that there is an uncanny resemblance between the rear of the chariot and the elephant.
25 minutes here · Admission included
Arjuna's Penance
We next visit Arjuna’s Penace, a bas-relief monument that’s considered one of India’s most magnificent pieces of ancient art, depicting vivid scenes from the Mahabharata. The relief is 100 feet long and 45 feet tall! The main story being told is how Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, performed severe austerities in order to obtain Lord Shiva's weapon.
20 minutes here · Admission included
Pancha Pandava Cave
Pandava cave is the largest cave-temple at Mahabalipuram The cave is supported on six pillars and two pilasters. The highlight of the architecture are the spectacular sculptures of mythical creatures called Yali on the pillars.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Krishna's Butter Ball
The next stop is Krishna’s Butterball, a granite boulder that’s poised on a stony slope. This curious boulder seems to defy Newton's laws of gravity and has not moved an inch despite being in this precarious position on the slope for more than a thousand years.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Varaha Cave Temple
The Varaha cave is carved out of huge piece of granite and dates back to the 7th century. This temple took several decades to be completed. There are squatting lions adorning the pillars which support the hall. Another highlight are the sculptures of two guardian angels who protect the sanctum.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Trimurti Cave
This cave is a fine example of the spectacular architecture style of the Pallavas. The rock cut temple is dedicated to the holy trinity of Hindu Gods- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are fine carvings of elephants as well.
15 minutes here · Admission included
This is a imposing chariot carved out of a single stone. Originally dedicated to Lord Shiva, it now has the deity of his son Lord Ganesh. It was built in the 7th century by King Mahendravarman I. The other highlight of this temple are the 18 inscriptions in ancient grantha and nagari scripts of Sanskrit.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Built in the year 640, it is India’s oldest light house and one of the oldest in the world. Mahabalipuram was a very busy port since the 7th century and hence this lighthouse played a significant role in keeping mariners safe.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Mahishasuramardini Cave
Two of the most impressive works of art of Mahabalipuram reside in this cave. It has 2 imposing bas-reliefs on the walls. The first one is Lord Vishnu sleeping on top of the coils of a serpent. The other is with Goddess Durga fighting with the demon Mahishasura on a lion.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Shore Temple
Our last port of call is the Shore Temple. The magnificent temple overlooks the Bay of Bengal and was an important centre during the reign of the Pallavas when Mahabalipuram was the main port of their Kingdom. Built by King Raja Simha during the early 8th century, the Shore Temple is a landmark in the architectural landscape of India. Marco Polo referred to this as the seven pagodas. The existing temple is the last surviving of the 7 which once stood as a beacon for sea farers.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Options you can book
By Royal Enfield Motorcycle
Led by Escort Rider: Riders need International driving permit along with motorcycle license Pickup included
By Private car
Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- 5 Senses Walks
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 472 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
5 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Pace and timing
4 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
472 verified traveler reviews for Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Private tour in Mahabalipuram
My partner and i went on a private tour to see the Mahabalipuram temple. Thanks to our guide Kannan, we had an amazing time and learned a lot about the history of the different temples. I would recommend to join this tour if you want a relaxed way of seeing cultural architecture in Chennai.
via Tripadvisor
Amazing tour of ancient sites
Our tour of the site was stunning and the guides were exceptionally knowledgeable. Jainath and Balu, gave us great historical background and the local connection was the perfect way to contextualise the beautiful sites and were very friendly. Would highly recommend for English speaking tourists.
via Tripadvisor
Fantastic guided tour from Chennai
Jainath and the local guide, Balu, were both fantastic. We had a wonderful last minute tour from Chennai to Mahabalipuram. The guiding was very informative and they had a wealth of knowledge to share. Visiting in this way made the experience so easy and added to the experience
via Tripadvisor
Incredible Mahabalipuram experience with Kannan 💗
The experience was marvellous. I had a brilliant time seeing all the 4 locations. My favourite was especially the last stop where I saw all the 5 stages from the one boulder. Very artistic and incredible craftsmanship. There is a lot of ingenuity and engineering that went into the making of these sites. They definitely deserve to be unesco sites. My tour guide Kannan was incredibly knowledgeable and kept me engaged throughout the tour while also taking amazing pictures at impeccable stops. Additionally, Kannan taught me the proper way to eat a South Indian lunch which was an incredible experience. Great spice profile. I would highly recommend this, worth every penny. 💕
via Tripadvisor
A well-run day out to Mahabalipuram, start to finish
Thanks Kannan and his team for a really well-run day out from Chennai, and one of the highlights of my trip. The transport made a big difference. Being picked up at the hotel in an air-conditioned car meant the drive down was comfortable rather than something to endure, and having the car with us between sites was a relief in the heat. We had two guides, and between them they covered everything. The knowledge was genuinely impressive — the history of the Pallava period, the stories behind the carvings, details I would have walked straight past on my own. They were also just very kind and attentive: never rushed us, made sure we were comfortable, and took photos for us at all the best spots without being asked. That care came through all day. Lunch was included and turned out to be an experience in itself. Getting to try so many different South Indian dishes in one meal, with the guides explaining what everything was and how to eat it, was something I wouldn't have found on my own. If you're in Chennai, do this. The sites are extraordinary, and having knowledgeable guides, a comfortable car and a great meal all arranged for you makes it effortless. Highly recommended.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $85 to $155
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 165
- Verdict
- 90+ Club
Who runs this experience
Operated by 5 Senses Walks, who run 86 experiences we rank across 10 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 63.5 and 5 in the 90+ Club.
See everything 5 Senses Walks runsWhy this scores 93
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Chennai.
How much does Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company cost?
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Prices start at $85 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Chennai usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company take?
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Plan for about 7 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Chennai is not rushed.
Is Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 93 out of 100, which we label "90+ Club". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 472 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Chennai, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
Can I cancel or reschedule Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company?
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Around 165 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Chennai can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Chennai and add a light layer if any part of the 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Mahabalipuram tour by Tourism Ministry approved company start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Chennai within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Chennai?
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On Outty we rank every Chennai experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Chennai tour in car with guide-winner of traveller's choice award, Gods of Mylapore walking tour: Journey Through Living Traditions, Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram by tourism ministry approved company. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Chennai?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Chennai?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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