Explore Mahabalipuram
Temples in Mahabalipuram
Religious sites and temples to visit in Mahabalipuram
Ganesh Ratha Temple
One of ten rathas carved from pink granite within Mahabalipuram's UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ganesha Ratha is a fully completed monolithic temple from the late 7th century, built during the reigns of Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I. Originally dedicated to Lord Shiva, the shrine was rededicated to Lord Ganesha in the 1880s when villagers replaced the Shiva Linga with a Ganesha idol. Unlike the more massive monuments nearby, it offers a quiet and intimate experience with intricate carvings and an active daily puja.
Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple
A 7th-century Pallava rock-cut cave with an iconic bas-relief of Durga slaying Mahishasura, part of Mahabalipuram's UNESCO Heritage site.
Olakkannesvara Temple (Old Lighthouse)
Built in the late 7th to early 8th century by Pallava king Rajasimha, the Olakkannesvara Temple is a grey granite Dravidian shrine perched on a rocky hillock in Mahabalipuram, overlooking the Coromandel Coast. The temple's name translates to "flame-eyed," a reference to fires once lit on its rooftop terrace to guide ships navigating the Bay of Bengal, making it one of India's earliest known lighthouse structures. Its walls carry carved depictions of Shiva as Dakshinamurti, Nataraja, and the Ravana lifting Kailasa scene.
Shore Temple
One of South India's oldest stone temples, built by the Pallavas in 700 CE on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thirukadalmallai (Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple)
One of the 108 Divya Desams of the Vaishnava tradition, this ancient temple in Mahabalipuram is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, worshipped here as Sthalasayana Perumal, with Goddess Lakshmi as Nilamangai Thayar. Celebrated in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham by the Alvar saints, the temple was originally built by the Pallavas and later expanded by the Cholas, Vijayanagara kings, and Madurai Nayaks. It is also revered as the birthplace of Bhoothathalvar, one of the twelve Alvar saints of the Vaishnavite tradition. A serene and spiritually charged stop near the Bay of Bengal.
Trimurti Cave
Perched atop a 100-foot cliff near Ganesha Ratha, the Trimurti Cave Temple is a 7th-century Pallava rock-cut shrine dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Unlike other Pallava cave temples, it opens directly into three distinct shrines without a pillared mandapa, each housing beautifully carved deities with unique dvarapalas at the entrance. A Mahishasuramardhini niche and a bas-relief panel of elephants, monkeys, and peacocks add further richness to this UNESCO-listed monument.
Varaha Cave Temple
A 7th-century Pallava rock-cut cave at Mahabalipuram with masterpiece bas-reliefs of Vishnu as Varaha, part of the UNESCO Heritage site.