Chennai & the Coromandel coast · Pallava monuments by the sea, UNESCO
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) group trip guide
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram): Pallava monuments by the sea, UNESCO in Chennai & the Coromandel coast, Tamil Nadu. From Chennai it is 58 km by road, 1.5–2.5 hours with stops. Groups give it 1 day. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Chennai costs ₹6,800–8,400 for a same-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Chennai
- 58 km by road
- Time to give it
- 1 day
- Best season
- November to February
- Fare from Chennai
- ₹6,800–8,400 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Chennai (MAA)
Mamallapuram's monuments were carved by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries: the Shore Temple on the beach, the five rathas cut from single rocks, cave temples and the great relief of Arjuna's Penance.
The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a dance festival is held against the monuments around January.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Chennai → Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
₹6,800–8,400
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 58 km one way · 1 day, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
A day from Chennai on the East Coast Road, or a stop on the way to Puducherry.
UNESCO sitesForts, palaces & old townsBeaches & the sea
How far is Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 58 km | 1.5–2.5 h | Route: Chennai to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) |
| Coimbatore | 456 km | 9–10 h | – |
| Madurai | 409 km | 8–9 h | – |
| Tiruchirappalli | 285 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Karur | 382 km | 8–9 h | – |
Group fares from Chennai
Round trip with driver, 1 day, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 1 day |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹4,700–6,300 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹5,800–7,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹6,800–8,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹7,900–10,000 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹15,000–20,200 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: November to February.
- Time to give it: 1 day.
- Who goes: Families, School groups, International visitors.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Chennai (MAA).
- Nearest railway station: Chengalpattu.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
Approved operators who take groups to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram). Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
95 km by road from Mahabalipuram
Fleet details on request
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
382 km by road from Mahabalipuram
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
324 km by road from Mahabalipuram
Fleet details on request
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
Serves Mahabalipuram
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Chennai-la irundhu Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)-ku evvalavu dooram? (How far is Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) from Chennai?)
58 km by road: 1.5–2.5 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)-ku tempo traveller-ku evvalavu aagum? (What does a tempo traveller to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) cost?)
Round trip from Chennai (58 km one way, 1 day) with driver: 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400, 40–49 seater bus ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) cost?
Round trip from Chennai with driver: SUV / Innova ₹4,700–6,300; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹5,800–7,400; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹7,900–10,000; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)?
1 day. With the drive from Chennai, plan a day trip, or 2 days to see more in all. A day from Chennai on the East Coast Road, or a stop on the way to Puducherry.
When is the best time to visit Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)?
November to February.
Which vehicle for our group?
4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) from abroad?
Nearest airport: Chennai (MAA). Nearest railway station: Chengalpattu. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved