Private Tour
Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram by tourism ministry approved company
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
In this day tour from Chennai, we will visit the twin wonders of Pallava architecture, Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. This tour is hosted by a Five Senses Tours which is a company approved by the ministry of tourism and is also a member of the prestigious Indian association of Tour Operators.
We will cover the magnificent temples of Ekambareswar & Kailashnath in Kanchipuram. After that we visit the ancient sea port of Mahabalipuram and visit the legendary rock cut structures lie Arjuna's penance, Five Rathas and the iconic Shore temple which served literally as the beacon for sea farers from the 8th century onwards.
The company promotes local livelihood by training and employing local guides and patronising local businesses.
This is a fully guided tour with pick up and drop, private car, full time guide, lunch and all entrance charges as well.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Ekambareswarar Temple
We visit Ekambareswarar of Pallava dynasty to appreciate these ancient architectural wonders. These were built in 600 AD and are magnificent specimens of the Pallava style of architecture.
We will visit the magnificent temple of Kailasanathar Temple from Pallava times. Kanchipuram was the capital of the medieval South Indian Kingdom of Pallavas. The Pallavas were instrumental in the transition from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. We will appreciate these architectural wonders built in 600 AD.
What‘s Included
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Lunch
Drinks
Options
Hotel pick up Private tour
Private tour in car: Tour will be done in a car only for you
Pickup included
Reviews
261 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram Whirlwind Tour
Vonkie007,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Natarajan is a very experienced and knowledgeable tour guide. He was my guide on my 1 day Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram tour. He offers stories beyond the normal guide. It was a real blessing to spend the day with him. He has been my personal photographer and has been subjected to my 1 star jokes. Great bloke My only suggestion is that this tour might need to be a two day tour. I would have loved seeing more of the 1000 temples in Kanchipuram. Thanks
Highly recommended, Must do!!
L6167CKdavej,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Highly recommend 😁 Natarajan is an incredible guide. He was absolutely amazing. Giving me lots of information about all of the sites and temples we went to. Without having information and background history of what the temples represented was fantastic!! Giving much more meaning to the experience. He helped answer questions that were about India. It is the first time in am visiting here and he gave me lots of excellent tips and advice for my travels. As I am travelling on my own and have only been in India a few days. He gave me a bunch of restaurant and other sightseeing tips and suggestions. I had a fantastic day and was happy with everything. Having a private driver was amazing. We could take our time and i could stay longer at places i wanted to. The lunch included was delicious. I will definitely be doing more tours here next time im in Chennai. Just ask for Natarajan. Great guy very friendly and was a pleasure to.spend the day with.
Time travel to Chola and Pallava dynasty
jasbirs696,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Booked last min trip on whim to spend 1 leisure day in Chennai. With in few mins of booking was connected to the tour guide Mr Kannan and from there it was a very knowledgeable/ engaging experience. Mr Kannan’s story telling skills and communication style is top notch making you visualize what the world would have been 1300 yrs back . Enjoyed every min of the tour. Thanks
Full on day trip but worth the long day
eowyngirl,,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Pretty full on day trip visiting Kancheepuram in the morning, then Mahabalipuram in the afternoon after lunch. Jainath was very attentive throughout with lots of helpful information about the artistry and history on display in the various temples. We also visited some typical older houses and a silk workshop in Kancheepuram, as well as a local sculptor in Mahabalipuram. An extremely long day but well worth going to see these ancient temples and sites just outside of Chennai.
Complex carved stone temples from 600-700 CE (or A.D.)
Brett B,,Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00To see ancient religious sites from 1400 years ago, this tour is excellent. Kannan was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable. However, beware the use of the word "cave' which is actually just a recess cut into stone walls to house the carvings of Shiva and the usual gods and their families seen in most temples. The tour covers 2 small but impressive UNESCO heritage sites
Unmatched Private Experience!
evansN3597OR,,Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is an amazing tour!! My guide Natarajan and driver Mahendran were fantastic and so accommodating. I was a bit ill the day of the tour but they both went out of their way to make every adjustment I asked for. So glad I powered through because the temples and monuments are incredible. This tour is worth every penny!!
Culturally immersive and beautiful tour
seanfU404OQ,,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Exploring Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram with Nivi was an amazing, unforgettable experience. I saw beautiful temples and loved learning about their history and significance. I really enjoyed our stop at a traditional home and seeing a silk loom. We shared a delicious lunch, my first time trying paneer dosa in India! Ramesh was also a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable, thoughtful and took amazing photos me throughout the tour of Mahabalipuram so I can show my friends and family. I never felt rushed because they both gave me ample time to explore on my own as well. I cannot recommend this tour enough as a solo traveler in Tamil Nadu.
Temples, Traffic & Top Guides!
vedrane2017,,Aug 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I started my 5 Senses Tour at 7:30 with Ganesh and Mahendren, who were sharp and punctual. Ganesh shared great knowledge of Kanchipuram temples before we drove to Mahabalipuram, where local guide Ramesh explained the local sites really well. Mahendren did a fantastic job navigating “video-game level” traffic in a cool, comfortable Suzuki.
Informative day tour
Misty D,,Jul 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had an informative tour with Kannan. Everything was well paced, lunch was tasty, the temples were stunning and there was an impromptu stop at a silk shop.
Great experience
dancH8463IA,,Jul 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mahab and Kanch were great! We had a great time visiting the temples and the sites. The car was clean and arrived promptly in the morning. The guide was very knowledgeable and answered all of questions. Communication was great and we had a fun time.
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