MAHABALIPURAM

There is foundings close to Mahabalipuram dating back to the dawn of Christian era. Chinese and Roman coins from the 4th century have been found at the city's port revealing Mahabalipuram as an active hub of global trade in the late classical period. Most of the oldest temples are cavetemples and are excavated into the sides of a granite hill only a short distance from the sea. In modern time, Mahabalipuram is listed as a World Heritage site adn is a renowned centre for stone carving. You can see and hear the daily tapping of hammer and chisel as the artisans chip away at exquisite sculptures, many of wotch are exported around the world.