The old port town of Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram on the shores
of the Bay of Bengal, has a coastline spanning a distance of over 20 km
with beautiful beaches. Located 58km from Chennai on the Mahabalipuram
road, the golden sandy beach is a picturesque place bounded by the shimmering
sea and rolling hills. Identified as the most pristine beaches of Tamil
Nadu, the beach attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year. The
beach is an idle place for sunbathing and lazing around. The sea is rough
and swimming is not recommended.
Mahabalipuram beach also has some ancient historical monuments in its
close proximity and this is the main reason of attraction of this beach.
There is one of the oldest shore temples in South India built by the Pallava
King Rajasimha in the early 8th century and the world's largest bas-relief,
the 'Penance
of Arjuna', which is 96ft long and 43 ft high, the five rathas
and the tiger's cave along the beach. On the way to Mahabalipuram Beach
is Dakshinachitra, 28 km from Chennai, a heritage space with exhibitions
and workshops of the arts and crafts including traditional home architecture
and performing artists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Other places
worth a visit while on a tour to the beach include the crocodile farm
where about 5000 crocodiles of 6 different species, alligators and other
reptiles are bred in captivity, kept in open, marshy enclosures, snake
venom extracting centre and a school of art and sculpture.
Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu
hosts a Dance Festival annually at Mahabalipuram during Jan- Feb. The
festival which lasts for a month has exponents of classical dances like
Bharata
Natyam, Kuchipudi,
Kathak, Kathakali.as
well as folk dances perform in an open air stage against the magnificent
backdrop of the Pallava rock sculptures. A wide choice of accommodation
for longer stays are provided at various rates along the beach draw holiday
seekers all round the year. Accommodation is available at Hotel Tamil
Nadu (Beach Resorts Complex), Hotel Tamil Nadu II Camping Site and other
beach resorts and lodges.
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Beaches 
