Mamallapuram is like a small satellite-town to Chennai, an ideal spot to escape from the pollution
and the noise of the overcrowded big city for a weekend. But also Indians from other states come
here to enjoy the ever beach holiday mood with all the restaurants and tiny shops. The government
understood well the value of the historical premises here with the famous Rock-Relief, the Shore
Temple and the Five Rathas which stood model for the typical architecture of the Tamil Temples.
A new toll-road opened this hinterland up to Pondicherry to invite also important guests to
discover the roots of their culture highlighted with the Barathanatyam-Festival with Pongal.

People come early to the beach to do the Surian Namaskar, greeting the rising sun as a blessing for
the day, after they get their breakfast in their hotel or local bhavan.