Mahabalipuram Art History and Culture Private Tour from Chennai | 6 hours

8 Reviews | Chennai
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Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Mahabalipuram Art History and Culture Private Tour from Chennai
2 Adults x $123.29
$246.58
Approx Total
$246.58
Pickup included

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Private transportation
  • Transport in a SUV
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Expert Guide
  • Tour
  • Lunch
  • Camera Fees where applicable
  • Lunch for guide
  • Tips - though not expected, it would be great to leave your guide a tip to show your appreciation.

Overview

Discover Mahabalipuram on our exclusive private day tour led by accomplished, highly educated cultural custodians with backgrounds in History, architecture and fine arts. Mahabalipuram was an important ancient port well known to the ancient Romans and Greeks. The charming town is today renowned the world over for its exquisite 6th century rock cut temples and intricate statues of stone and is an UNESCO designated World Heritage Site - an "area of of outstanding value to humanity." You will be amazed by the art work in granite. On the way, we visit an interesting "living museum" of South India, Dakshin Chitra to enable an understanding of South Indian way of life through the centuries. The tour is perfect for those seeking an understanding in Indian art, history and culture and is children friendly. This day tour with us has been described by many discerning travellers as one of the most fascinating day tours in India. Note: Lunch not included. You must pay for the guides lunch.

Itinerary

  • Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum

    The first stop in Dakshin Chitra, a very interesting "museum" that showcases traditional South Indian houses and arts - they have carefully relocated brick by brick many old and traditional houses from across South India - a fantastic visit

    1 hour

  • Tiger Cave

    The Tiger Cave is a fascinating rock-cut Hindu temple complex just before Mahabalipuram. It gets its name from the carvings of tiger heads on the mouth of a cave which forms a part of the complex. Constructed in the early 8th century, this amazing complex has one of the most beautiful bas-reliefs in the world which is unfortunately missed by most travellers as it is a little hidden

    1 hour

  • Pancha Rathas

    Astounding 6th century monolithic masterpieces built under the reign of the king Narasimhavarman II (c. 690–725 CE

    1 hour

  • Mahishasuramardini Cave

    Another absolute masterpiece of the Pallava Dynasty, the temple is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

    2 hours

  • Shore Temple

    The shore temple is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of Southern India. At the time of its creation, the site was a busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the ancient Pallava dynasty

    1 hour

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Free Cancellation

June 19100% refund
June 20No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

5.0

8 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    8
  • 4 stars
    0
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    0

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 8 reviews with 5 stars

Exceptional experience with unmatched knowledge and Charisma!!

Published on Jan, 2025

I had the pleasure of experiencing a one-day Chennai city tour and a one-day Mahabalipuram tour with Chandan, and I cannot recommend him highly enough! His vast knowledge of history and architecture is truly unparalleled. He brought each site to life with fascinating stories and detailed explanations that showed his deep passion and expertise. What made the experience even more special was Chandan’s incredible conversational skills. He has a knack for making every moment engaging and enjoyable. Time seemed to fly as we explored the stunning landmarks, thanks to his friendly demeanor and insightful commentary. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or just someone looking for an enriching travel experience, Chandan is the perfect guide. His professionalism, combined with his warm personality, made these tours unforgettable. I left with not just beautiful memories but also a greater appreciation for the cultural richness of Chennai and Mahabalipuram. Thank you, Chandan, for a truly amazing experience! Would definitely book another tour with him in the future.

Mahabalipuram Exploration

Published on Jan, 2025

Chandan drove us from Chennai to Mahabalipuram to see the amazing sights Mahabalipuram has to offer. He provided us with information/history of both Chennai and Mahabalipuram. Both cities are must-see places, and Mahabalipuram (home of several UNESCO world heritage sites) should most definitely not be missed, as there are many breathtaking and wildly impressive granite carvings/buildings. Anyone visiting Chennai should absolutely find the time to visit Mahabalipuram.

Amazing experience learning about the history of Mahabalipuram!

Published on Dec, 2024

We had a fantastic time going around Mahabalipuram with Chandan! We would definitely recommend doing this tour if you love learning about art history because Chandan did a fabulous job of explaining about the art and history of Mahabalipuram to multiple age groups. He was very flexible throughout the day because of the needs of the multiple age groups. He was easy to communicate with before and during the tour because he has an easygoing demeanor. If we come back to Chennai, we would definitely do another tour with him because everyone in our group enjoyed learning and talking with him.

Comfortable Tour. Good experience.

Published on Dec, 2024

Chandan was a great guide. He arrived on time to pick us up from our hotel and made us feel comfortable. Communication with him was easy, and he explained everything in detail, which made our trip more enjoyable. We were hoping for a bit more from the trip, but overall, it was a good experience.

Amazing exploration of South Indian architecture and culture

Published on Nov, 2024

We had an amazing time on the trip to the historical town of Mahabalipuram. The guides were super friendly and knowledgeable. From taking us to a quintessential breakfast spot (since we were hungry and open to a detour) to some of the most majestic and beautiful monolithic sculptures and temples in the world, it was jam packed with experiences that we’ll hold dear to us, forever. Thank you Chandan and SK for going above and beyond.

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