One Day Chennai to Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry Trip by Car
A delightful way to explore the coastline of Eastern Tamil Nadu is to do a one day trip from Chennai to Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry via a hired cab.
The ancient town of Mahabalipuram is famous for its 7th century temples, a gorgeous beach and a giant rock which delicately balances itself on a slope.
Further along the East coast of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry is India’s quaint French neighbourhood. Explore the self-sustaining eco-township of Auroville on your way to Pondicherry and watch the massive golden sphere of the Matrimandir.
Observe the distinct yellow buildings in this union territory’s White Town and drop by at the tranquil Aurobindo Ashram. The drive ends at the beautiful backwaters of Chunnambar next to the pristine Paradise Beach.
Book this one day trip for a comfortable journey along the Bay of Bengal, over sun-kissed beaches and with a balmy breeze to keep you company all the way.
What to Expect
This epic one day cab trip from Chennai to Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry will begin at 6 in the morning and go on until 11 at night.
The first leg of the journey from the capital city of Chennai to the temple town of Mahabalipuram spans 57 km and will take around an hour and forty minutes to cover.
By 8 AM, you will arrive in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram (or Mamallapuram), just in time for breakfast.
You will first explore Mahabalipuram’s shore temple complex, dating back to the 8th century A.D., and then enjoy the adjoining beach where you can participate in a number of activities ranging from surfing to swimming.
Barely a 10-minute drive away is another famous heritage site of Pancha Rathas or Five Chariots which are monolithic rock cut monuments from as far back as 630 A.D.
In a short drive from there, you’ll reach the two large monolithic rock carvings which depict stories from mythology and the Mahabharata. This monument is collectively known as the Descent of the Ganges. A particularly popular part of the carvings is Arjuna’s Penance, which tells the story of how the warrior Arjuna received a boon from Shiva.
A few steps away is a 250-ton granite ball that precariously sits on an incline – Krishna’s Butter Ball. After this tour of Mahabalipuram, you will enjoy a hearty lunch.
Next, prepare yourselves for some lovely views of the Coromandel Coast as you are driven southwards towards Pondicherry along the East Coast Road. After over 95 kilometres of road journey, you will reach Auroville.
Auroville is an interesting intentional community that runs on solar power and has its own currency. This planned township for about 3000 residents from over 40 countries has a unique attraction site – the Matrimandir. This is a metallic dome which has golden discs adorning its exterior spherical frame. People often come here to meditate.
Here on, you will be taken to the erstwhile French colony of Pondicherry. From your car, you will be able to appreciate the shoreline of the White Town and the string of government buildings built along the road.
You will alight at the Aurobindo Ashram where you can look at the tombs (samadhis) of Sri Aurobindo and the ‘Mother’ (Mirra Alfassa) who were the founders of this spiritual community. There is a library in case you wish to know more about their culture and belief system.
Sip on some coffee at one of the beachside cafes and munch on some evening snacks before your cab takes you to the beautiful Chunnambar backwaters located about 8 km away.
Relish the tropical vibes of this lesser known sight. If you arrive before 5 PM, you will be able to ride a ferry to the Paradise Beach.
After sunset, get set for a 3-hour long drive back to Chennai. You should reach the city by 11 PM, thus completing your action-packed full day of sightseeing!
Places to visit during your One Day Chennai to Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry Trip by Car
1. Mahabalipuram Seashore Temple
Built in the 7th century the glorious temple has three shrines, one dedicated to Lord Shiva and others dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu appears in the reclining form on the Sheshanag.
A distinguishing feature of the temple is that it is one of the oldest five storied rock-cut structural temple. The east facing shrine has the sun rays directly falling on the Shiva Linga. This ancient complex is an important pilgrimage site and a classic example of Dravidian architecture.
Visitors would appreciate the grandeur of the temple where every structure in the temple complex is richly decorated and gives this temple its imposing character. Take in the elegance of the temple with a pyramidal structure that is 60 feet high and sits on a 50 feet high square platform.
Nandi sculptures are beautifully carved on the walls of the temple. Pallava king Narasimhavarman II constructed the temple which had additions made by the Chola kings.
2. Mahabalipuram Shore Beach
Wander along the famous Seashore Beach that stretches to a distance of 20 km. Viewing the sunsets and sunrise at the pristine beach offers a captivating experience. Annual Dance Festival organized by the Tourism Department of the Tamil Nadu Government at the beach draws a huge crowd.
3. Five Rathas
These rocky wonders built during the reign of Narsimhavarman I are more popular as the Panch Rathas and have been named after the Pandavas and their wife Draupadi. Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakul Sahadev Ratha and Durga Ratha are the names of the five rathas.
Travellers would be fascinated by the five whimsical monolithic structures constructed in Dravidian style of architecture. Tallest among the five rathas are Dharmaraja Ratha that portrays the image of Indra, the king of all heavenly gods. Adorned with the carved images of the Hindu gods, Brahma, Ardhanadishvara, Skanda, Harihara and King Narasimhavarman I, the Dharmaraja Ratha is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Arjuna Ratha which is similar to Dharamaraja Ratha stands out with its marvellous octagonal dome. Unlike the three tiered vimana of Dharamraja Ratha, Arjuna Ratha has a two tiered Vimana and enshrines Lord Shiva.
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu Bhima Ratha resembles the Sala-Shikara or the Buddisht cave architecture. Adjacent to the Bhima Ratha stands the Nakul Sahdev Ratha dedicated to Lord Indra. A monolithic stone sculpture of an elephant built behind the Ratha attracts the attention of the visitors.
Draupadi Ratha is the last among the five treasure troves and represents a chariot. Built out of a single granite stone, it is the smallest among the five rathas and dedicated to Goddess Durga.
4. Descent of the Ganges & Arjuna’s Penance
This gigantic pair of structure is composed of two large boulders with intricate carvings on them. Covering an area of 96 feet by 43 feet, the monolithic heritage site tells the mythological story of how the River Ganges descended from heaven to the earth.
Also among the carvings are several gods, humans and semi-humans, and the story of how the Pandava warrior Arjun performed a penance to receive a boon from Shiva. He later used that boon in the war of Mahabharata. The rocks are basically pink granite, and quite well preserved.
5. Butter Ball
Explore the Butter Ball that fascinates the archeological enthusiasts as the next stop of our one day Chennai to Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram Trip. This natural formation sticks to the same place for more than 1200 years today. The incredible rock weighs around 250 tons soaring to a height of 6 meters.
6. Auroville
Situated 10 km from Pondicherry, the experimental township of Auroville is one-of-its-kind in India. Officially established by Mirra Alfassa in 1968, this place literally means ‘City of Dawn’ in French.
Even though there are close to 3000 residents from about 40 nationalities living here, visitors are allowed to tour the planned community. French, English and Tamil are recognised as the official languages here.
Auroville generates its own electricity through solar power and produces its own organic food. They have a digital currency here, and other currencies are not accepted. This eco-village also does a lot of spiritual activities.
7. Matrimandir
Located smack in the centre of Auroville is a humongous golden sphere. This metallic structure is actually a hall, but is a visual beauty in itself. Built of metallic plates, the Matrimandir runs entirely on solar power.
Natural light is allowed to filter in during the daytime, and solar power is used to light up the auditorium when it’s dark. There is an inner chamber supported by 4 pillars inside.
One needs to make an advance booking to enter the Matrimandir which is mostly used for meditation. An expansive manicured lawn named the ‘Peace Area’ surrounds this structure.
8. Pondicherry’s Aurobindo Ashram
Aurobindo Ashram was initially set up for the disciples of Sri Aurobindo – a retired politician who wanted to pursue spirituality. Today, it is also a museum open to visitors who can look at the white marble samadhis (tombs) of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother (Mirra Alfassa), and also explore the library.
For those interested in reading, there are several books authored by Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa, among certain other books. Aurobindo Ashram is open from 8 AM to 12 PM and again from 2 PM to 6 PM.
9. Backwaters of Chunnambar
8 km to the south of Pondicherry is a relatively unexplored village – Chunnambar. The backwaters of Chunnambar has a creek on one side and is connected to a beach on the other. It is possible to stay here in pretty little tree houses that dot the landscape.
This is also a great location to do some camping. You will have to carry your own tent and equipment though. You can reach here from Pondicherry through the Cuddalore Main Road.
10. Paradise Beach
This lovely beach can only be reached via ferries available in Chunnambar. There are a number of water sport activities that can be enjoyed here – sailing, rowing, speed-boating, pedal-boating and swimming. You can also play beach sports on the clean sands here.
You can also go on special boat trips that go out for dolphin watching. Hiking is another thing available for adventure enthusiasts. This beach is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Do keep in mind that you may have to queue up for the ferry, so plan your itinerary accordingly.