Visit Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Mahabalipuram has been a centre for stone carving for hundreds of years, a legacy displayed in superb temples, bas reliefs and mandapas (narratives carved into the face of shallow rock overhangs). The most famous example in Mahabalipuram is the Shore Temple, but the intriguing unfinished temples provide an insight into the sculptor’s art. Mahabalipuram is a good base to explore the region, visiting Chennai only on day trips whilst enjoying the leisurely atmosphere in this breezy coastal town on the Bay of Bengal.