Sight Seeing | Arjuna’s Temple, Pancha Rathas, Auroville, Boat House, Krishna Mandapam

Arjuna’s Temple

Arjuna's Penance is a massive open-air bas-relief monolith, which dates back to the 7th century. It is situated in the town of Mahabalipuram, at a distance of 58 km from Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Standing tall at a height of 43 feet, the Mamallapuram monolith was carved on the face of two huge adjoining boulders, somewhere around the mid-7th century.

14.6 km 20 mins

Crocodile Park

The Crocodile Bank is sited at around 44 km away from the capital city of Tamil Nadu, near Mahabalipuram. It extends over an area of about 3.2 hectares, comprising a wide range of Indian and African crocodiles, alligators and other reptiles including turtles and snakes. Here, the crocodiles are kept in their natural habitat.

28.4 km 27 mins

Tiger Cave

Tiger Cave is near the coastal village of Salurankuppam that is only 5 kilometers to the north of Mahabalipuram. This amazing mandapa contains a shrine that is dedicated to the Goddess Durga. There are large and impressive figures located in front of the caves. As with most carvings in India, the carvings and figures tell a story. This story has to do with an event that happened to the Goddess Durga.

18.2 km 21 mins

The Shore Temple

The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, built during the reign of the Pallava King Rajasimha (c. 700 - 728), is the earliest important structural temple in Southern India. Its three sanctuaries are dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. Prominent in this photo are the temple walls, topped by large sculptures of Nandi, and its two steep pyramidal towers capped by octagonal domes.

15.1 km 23 mins

Krishna Mandapam

The largest cave-cut Hindu temple in Mahabalipuram is Krishna Mandapam - it is also one of the oldest structures in Mahabalipuram. This structure is cut in diorite, above the temple there are located enormous boulders. Close next to it is located one of the most amazing ancient artworks of world - Arjuna's Penance. Entrance of the temple has six columns, five columns are adorned with horned lions. Further inside there are more columns.

14.6 km 20 mins

Pancha Rathas

These 7th century shrines (or temples; either term is appropriate) were carved during the reign of King Mamalla (Narasimhavarman I, c. 630 - 670), after whom the site is named. Each temple is a monolith, carved whole from an outcropping of rock. (The number of separate formations is a matter of debate; the four north-south temples may have been carved from a single mass.) The temples are unfinished, and so were never consecrated or used for worship.

15 km 20 mins

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo, revolutionary, poet, philosopher and yogi was born in Calcutta in 1872. He came to Pondicherry in 1910. The mother, born in Paris in 1878, came to India in 1914 to meet Sri Aurobindo. She rejoined Sri Aurobindo in 1920 and resumed her spiritual collaboration with him for the evolution of a higher consciousness, a spiritual and sacramental consciousness on earth. In the main building of the ashram, or Rue de Marine are the marble Samadhi, where Sri Aurobindo & the Mother have been seated.

83.4 km 1 hr 33 mins

Light House

In the ancient times the log fire on one of the high rocks used to serve as beacon for the vessels approaching Mahabalipuram port during the night. The British established the first conventional lighthouse by placing a wick lamp inside 4th order optic and lantern on the roof of Olakkaneesway Temple on 15th May 1887. This temple has been built on top of Mahishasuramardini cave. Lighthouse was then known as Seven Pagoda Lighthouse because the structures-mandapa, Rathas, Cave appeared like Pagoda.

28.4 km 27 mins

Auroville

Auroville welcomes people from all parts of the world to live together and explore cultural, educational, scientific, spiritual, and other pursuits in accordance with the Auroville charter. Auroville information centre and Matri Mandir [Meditation hall with world’s biggest man-made crystal ball] are the places open to most of the visitors. It offers less to see and lots to experience.

83.1 km 1 hr 33 mins

Aayi Mandapam and Bharati Park

The park facing the governor’s bungalow reflects the French influence. Once called as “place du pantheon” now turned as Aayi mandapam - the emblem of the Pondicherry Government. The park surrounded by Aayi mandapam has been restructured by preserving its heritage.

83.9 km 1 hr 34 mins

Promenade

The 1.5 km long promenade running along the beach is the pride of Pondicherry. Most of the landmarks are on the sea front : the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d’Arc, Dupleix, the elegant War memorial raised by the French, the heritage building “Mairie”, the 27 m tall old lighthouse, the circular shaped customs house & Gandhi Thidal.

83.8 km 1 hr 33 mins

Chunnambar Boat House

Facilities for boating are available at the Boat House on the River Chunnambar, 8kms from Pondicherry. The backwater and the lush greenery on both sides of Chunnambar provide an ideal setting for boating.

90.6 km 1 hr 43 mins

Ousteri Lake Boat House

Ousteri Lake is one of the biggest lake and major supplier of drinking water in those days. Now it is opened for the tourists for boat ride and to watch the birds. During the season, this lake acts as dwelling place for many migrating birds.

95.8 km 1 hr 51 mins

The Botanical Garden

The Botanical garden in Pondicherry was created in 1826, once called as “Colonial Park”. When the garden came under the control of the eminent botanist perottet “rare and interesting plants” were procured from Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon and Reunion. Its collection numbers to approx.1500 species.

84.2 km 1 hr 35 mins

The Pondicherry Museum

The museum brings back memories of the glorious past of Pondicherry, from the days of the Greco-Roman era down to the present days, providing glimpses of the art and culture of the people of this region during the pallava, chola and vijayanagar days. Artifacts from the excavations at Arikamedu are preserved here.

83.7 km 1 hr 34 mins

Heritage Walk

It is beautiful to take up the walk around the boulevard, showcasing three different architectures in 3-4 square kms. The White town or the French square, Tamil Square and the Muslim Square.

82.9 km 1 hr 31 mins

Churches

French missionary zeal in the 17th and 18th centuries saw a number of imposing churches built here. The Sacred Heart Church, situated on the south boulevard, stands out as an oriental specimen of gothic splendor. It contains rare and beautiful stained glass panels depicting saints and events from the life of Christ.

84.7 km 1 hr 36 mins

Temples

There are about 32 temples in Pondicherry. Among them the famous ones are Manakula vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar temple, Kamatchiamman temple and Varadaraja Perumal temple.

83.4 km 1 hr 32 mins

Shopping

Pondicherry is famous for highly creative and beautiful souvenirs. Terracotta, handmade papers, wooden handicrafts aromatics, leather products, linens and garments are unique here at JN Street. Sunday market is ideal for buying cheaper products.

83.1 km 1 hr 31 mins

Sunday Market

M.G Road and Nehru Street crossroads have street markets and they are quite famous and perfect for cheaper products. Garments, second – hand books, toys, households, CD’s DVD, audio tapes and used products are generally sold here.

83.8 km 1 hr 34 mins

Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple

Nithyakalayana Perumal temple in Thiruvidandai, a village in Chennai, Kanchipuram district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD.

31.8 km 32 mins