Mamallapuram Beach
மாமல்லபுரம் கடற்கரை
A long sandy beach on either side of the Shore Temple, good for watching fishing boats return at dawn and eating seafood at sunset, with backpacker guesthouses and surf schools.
Mamallapuram Beach stretches north and south from the Shore Temple. In the northern section, colourful fishing boats are pulled up on the sand, and at dawn you can watch fishermen haul in their nets and sell their catch. The fishermen's village road along the beach is popular with backpackers, with plenty of seafood restaurants, cafés and surf schools. Rip currents and strong waves are common along this stretch of the Bay of Bengal, and drownings occur every year, so swimming is not recommended. Surfing should be done with an instructor. The beach is free, and at sunrise you can photograph the silhouette of the Shore Temple.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Pancha Rathas
- Stone Carving Workshops, Mamallapuram
- Shore Temple
- India Seashell Museum
- Mahishasuramardini Mandapa & Lighthouse
- Sthalasayana Perumal Temple
- Arjuna's Penance (Descent of the Ganges)
- Krishna Mandapa