Plan your sacred journey to the Grand Temples of South India
Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram Tour
Kamakshi Amman and Ekambareswarar in Kanchipuram, then the Shore Temple by the sea at Mahabalipuram.
- Near Chennai
- Suitable for 1–2 Days
- UNESCO Shore Temple
- Family Friendly
About Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram Tour
Build a short trip around Kamakshi Amman and Ekambareswarar in Kanchipuram, then continue to the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram. Two days separate living temple visits from the coastal heritage stop and leave space for heat, queues and the return journey.
A short trip that suits a Chennai arrival: two of Kanchipuram’s great temples in one day, then the Pallava shore monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Temples on this Tour (3)
- 1View Details
Kamakshi Amman Temple
Goddess Kamakshi
Kanchipuram
Begin with the Kanchipuram anchor.
- 2
View DetailsKanchipuram Ekambareswarar
Earth element (Pancha Bhoota)
Kanchipuram
Combine another major temple within Kanchipuram.
- 3
View DetailsShore Temple
Pallava shore monument
Mahabalipuram
Continue to the coastal Pallava heritage site.
Route Map
Tour Highlights
- Kamakshi Amman, Kanchipuram
- Ekambareswarar, Kanchipuram
- Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
2-Day Route
The route moves between Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, staying near each day's temples. Allow 1 to 2 days for the 3 temples, plus travel to the first stop and home from the last.
Day 1 · stay in Kanchipuram
- Kamakshi Amman TempleGoddess KamakshiOpen 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM, with breaks
- Kanchipuram EkambareswararEarth element (Pancha Bhoota)Open 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM, with breaks
Day 2 · stay in Mahabalipuram
- Shore TemplePallava shore monumentOpen 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Editorial anchor-first combination based on Kanchipuram's temples and the coastal heritage connection. No mandatory three-temple traditional order was verified.
Optional stops nearby
Bird sanctuaries, dams, parks and falls near this tour's temples. They are optional: the route and cost above do not include them. Distances are straight-line from the nearest temple.
- Theme parkMGM Dizzee WorldAbout 24 km from Shore Temple
An amusement park on East Coast Road with family rides and a separate children's ride section. Its own site showed it open in October 2026, with some rides down for maintenance.
- Hours
- 10:30 am to 6:30 pm
- Closed
- Some rides were temporarily closed for maintenance when checked on 23 Oct 2026.
- For families
- The park lists a dress code and terms on its site; check them and ask which rides are running before you buy tickets.
- Bird sanctuaryKarikili Bird SanctuaryAbout 31 km from Kamakshi Amman Temple
Two rain-fed irrigation tanks that now serve as a breeding site for large waterbirds, with ducks such as pintail and garganey arriving in winter. It pairs easily with a Vedanthangal visit.
- Hours
- 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Entry
- Free entry
- Best season
- November to February; birds start arriving in September and October and most leave around February.
- For families
- Facilities are basic. The nearest listed stays are the forest rest house at Vedanthangal and a PWD rest house at Karunguzhi.
- WildlifeArignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur Zoo)About 32 km from Shore Temple
A zoo of about 602 hectares on the southern edge of Chennai. It lies on the road toward Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram, so it fits between temple stops.
- Hours
- 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Closed
- Tuesdays
- For families
- Distances inside are long, so use the paid battery vehicles or bicycles. Outside food is allowed if it is not in plastic bags, and feeding animals is not allowed.
- Theme parkVGP Universal KingdomAbout 34 km from Shore Temple
A long-running amusement park on East Coast Road with dry rides, a water park and a pet zoo. Its site says it is open daily.
- Hours
- Opens daily from 9:30 am; closing time not listed
- For families
- The park runs a Saturday offer where children under 130 cm enter free with an adult ticket. The water park helps on hot afternoons.
- Bird sanctuaryVedanthangal Bird SanctuaryAbout 37 km from Kamakshi Amman Temple
One of the oldest protected waterbird nesting lakes in India, looked after by local villagers for generations. The forest department says a good monsoon year can bring more than 40,000 birds of over 20 species.
- Hours
- 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Entry
- Adults Rs 25, children Rs 5, parking Rs 10, still or mobile camera Rs 25
- Best season
- November to February.
- For families
- The forest department lists a watch tower, a telescope and an eco shop on site. Come at dawn for the most bird activity.
Sources: mgmdizzeeworld.com, wlwchennai.tn.gov.in, traveltam.com, vgpuniversalkingdom.in, wlwchennai.tn.gov.in · checked 23 Oct 2026
Getting to Kanchipuram
Chennai's airport is about 62 km from Kanchipuram and about 55 km from Mahabalipuram, so the tour is a loop of under 200 km by road. Travellers already in Chennai can go by suburban train to Kanchipuram or Chengalpattu instead.
By air
- Chennai International Airport (MAA)about 62 km, about 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min by road
- Chennai International Airport (MAA)about 55 km to Mahabalipuram, about 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min by road
By train
- Kanchipuram (CJ)29 trains listed from Chennai Beach, mostly suburban locals taking about 2 hr to 2 hr 45 min. The town station is about 1 km from Ekambareswarar per HR&CE. Road is usually quicker from Chennai.
- Chengalpattu Junction (CGL)Tamil Nadu Tourism names it the nearest station to Mamallapuram, about 23 km away. 94 trains listed from Chennai Beach (suburban locals about 1 hr 40 min to 2 hr); 29 trains run on to Kanchipuram in about 35 to 45 min, so it links both towns.
By road
- From Chennaiabout 75 km, about 1 hr 30 min to 2 hr
- Kanchipuram to Mahabalipuramabout 66 km, about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 45 min
- Chennai to Mahabalipuramabout 58 km, about 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min along the East Coast Road
Sources: tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in, tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in, erail.in, erail.in, trawell.in, trawell.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Can we visit Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram in one day?
It can fit with a selective visit and favourable queues, but adding Chennai return travel makes a long day. Two days are preferable for elders or a fuller visit.
Is the Shore Temple part of a traditional Kanchipuram circuit?
Not in the sources verified for this page. It is a nearby regional heritage addition to a trip anchored at Kamakshi Amman.
Should we stay in Chennai or Kanchipuram?
Kanchipuram gives the temple visits a local start. Chennai can work as an arrival or departure base, but its additional transfers are outside this two-day template.
Plan this Tour
Create your personalized pilgrimage journey
Estimated Trip Cost
₹ 5,700
for 4 people (1 Day)
≈ ₹ 1,425 per person for the trip
- No flight needed · already in the arrival city₹0Choose road or drive for a local trip. Airport transfers are still extra.
- 1 × AC sedan with driver₹4,1001 × (250 billed km × ₹14 + 1 days × ₹600 driver). Up to 4 passengers per vehicle, driver separate. AC; fuel budgeted within the per-km hire, inclusions to confirm. Minimum 250 km/day; route 174 km. Chennai operator example; pickup in your region to confirm. Rate source
- 0 nights · 2 rooms₹00 nights × 2 rooms × ₹2,305/night. Two people per room, rounded up. Hotel Raya’s Standard AC, Kumbakonam published reference including tax; availability elsewhere to confirm. Rate source
- Simple local meals · all travellers₹1,6001 days × 4 people × ₹400/day. Planning allowance.
- Tolls, parking and personal spending
- Home/station transfers, travel-day meals and extra nights
- Permits, garage/pickup kilometres, driver accommodation and operator taxes, if charged
Assumptions & what changes this estimate
References checked 19 October 2026. Rooms use the linked hotel’s published examples. Meals, fuel, bus and train are budgeting allowances. Bus/train costs use approximate distance, not ticket searches or confirmed classes. Flight examples are economy fares; Luxury upgrades your stay and local vehicle, not your flight cabin. Cab and rental examples need confirmation for your arrival region.
Basic sets rooms, meals and hired vehicle class. Own-vehicle fuel and economy return fares do not change with the stay tier. Dates do not fetch live prices.
Hotel references are Kumbakonam examples, including the published tax, used as a budget across the trip. They are not confirmed rooms in every town. Meals and fuel are planning allowances. All travellers use the same allowance; no child discount is assumed.
Cab minimums and room sharing mean some changes can leave a line unchanged. Travel quotes entered by you are fixed group totals. Prices and availability must be confirmed before booking.