My Camera Log

This post continues from my earlier blog,   Mahabalipuram Temple Complex – Part 1 .   After exploring the first half of the complex, I moved on to the other side, which is home to the   Lighthouse   and several beautiful monuments. The  Mahabalipuram Lighthouse  stands tall on a rocky hill, offering breathtaking views of the town and the Bay of Bengal. Built in the early 20th century, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the sea breeze and the sunrise — though, unfortunately, it was a cloudy day during my visit, so I missed the sunrise view. Just beside it is the  Olakkannesvara Temple , also known as the  Old Lighthouse . This ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, sits atop the hill and offers a stunning panoramic view of the sea and the surrounding monuments. Next, I stopped by  Draupadi’s Bath , a small rock-cut structure connected to the legends of the Pandavas. Though simple, it highlights the fine craftsmanship of the Pallava artisans and ...

The Mahabalipuram Temple Complex is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site filled with ancient monuments and rock-cut temples. During our earlier visit to the Shore Temple, we couldn’t explore this area fully, so this time I made sure not to miss it. I started early from the resort around   6:15 AM   and reached the complex just as it opened — I was the first visitor of the day! Without the crowd, the place looked even more peaceful and magical, and the cool morning breeze made the walk even better. The complex has two entrances — one near the  Lighthouse  and the other near  Krishna’s Butterball . I began my walk from the Krishna’s Butterball side and explored the following beautiful monuments: Krishna’s Butterball:  A huge, round boulder that looks like it’s about to roll down the hill but has stayed perfectly balanced for centuries. Ganesha Ratha:  A beautifully carved stone temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, showing the elegance of Pallava architectu...

During our trip to Mahabalipuram, we visited one of its most famous attractions —   Pancha Rathas , also known as the   Five Chariots . These stunning rock-cut temples were built in the 7th century during the   Pallava dynasty   and are a great example of ancient Indian art and architecture. Each temple is carved out of a single large rock and is dedicated to the   Pandavas and Draupadi   from the Mahabharata. The carvings are detailed and beautiful, showing the amazing craftsmanship of that time. The  entry fee  for Pancha Rathas is  ₹40 for Indian visitors  and  ₹600 for foreign tourists . One nice thing about visiting Mahabalipuram is that a  single ticket  allows entry to all the  UNESCO temple sites  in the town. Some temples are located in different complexes, but the same ticket works everywhere. However, you’ll need to  pay parking fees separately  at each site. Most of the major temples, includ...

During our trip to Mahabalipuram, we visited the beautiful and peaceful Tiger Cave , located just a few kilometers before reaching the main town. This ancient rock-cut monument was built during the Pallava dynasty and is famous for its artistic carvings and scenic surroundings. The name “Tiger Cave” comes from the tiger-head-shaped carvings around the cave’s entrance — they look truly unique and impressive. There is plenty of parking space available near the site. The parking fee is ₹40 , and it’s better to carry cash since mobile networks are weak and UPI payments might not work. The entry fee for this beautiful place is ₹25 . Tiger Cave is about 8 km from Mahabalipuram town , on the highway towards Chennai. The best time to visit is from November to February , when the weather is cool and pleasant for outdoor sightseeing. Early mornings or late evenings are also good if you want to avoid the heat. When we visited, the weather was perfect — thanks to the light rain! ☔ At Tige...

The UNESCO temples of Mahabalipuram had been on my travel bucket list for a long time. Though I had passed through this beautiful town a couple of times earlier, I never got the chance to explore all its temples properly — my visits were always short stopovers during road trips. This time, I finally decided to dedicate a couple of days just to explore Mahabalipuram and its ancient wonders. Mahabalipuram is about 350 km from Bengaluru, and it takes around 6 to 7 hours by car. The best route is via the Chennai–Bengaluru Highway (NH48) and then along the scenic East Coast Road (ECR). The drive itself is lovely, especially once you get closer to the coastline. The best time to visit is between November and February, when the weather is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing. Early morning or evening visits are perfect if you want to enjoy the cool breeze and catch the golden light on the temple. We, however, ended up visiting in the afternoon, and the heat made everyone tired and hungry — less...