A Trip to Mahabalipuram (Mahabs) India

Today we took a trip to mahabalipuram.

This is a place along the ocean a little farther down the stretch from Ideal Beach where very old temples and structures stand. Some of these monuments were 6th or 7th century AD! Incredibly old and absolutely beautiful! It was a very warm day and the breeze off the ocean was the only relief. We walked along the ocean and watched the colorful fishing boats complete with colorful nets all lined up along the coast ready to head out for the days catch. They have a preservation process of binding up the fish and then laying them out on the beach to dry out which somehow preserves them for up to a year without refrigeration. Amazing. Stinky, but amazing. The boats and the nets along the beach made me wonder about Biblical times and if these fishermen still fish the same way today as they did back then.


Alan wanted to take us to the Bob Marley Restaraunt there but it was under construction. So we ate at another place along the beach. It was decent food, but had a fabulous view of the water and the openess allowed for the breeze to cool us off. We spent our lunch wathing the fishermen bring in their nets, and collect the fish and then put them on the beach and go back out again. There also lots of kids playing, puppies, and a rather large herd of cows hanging out on the beach for our entertainment.

Getting the nets ready for first catch.

Bringing in first catch.

Getting the nets ready for second cast.

Kids playing a tag/tackle game

The streets of this little town were busy with people viewing the monuments but the side steets lined with vendors were not busy at all. Each one would call out to us "Hello, Maddam!" Please Come...Buy Maddam." Various trinkets, clothing items, sandal shops, and bag shopps. We bought a few fun things along these streets. Little carved elephants and a table runner. And of course i had to get an Indian hand made handbag! I was rather ecstatic with my finds and supporting the local people as well. It was fun.

The ruins and temples we saw there magnificent but we really did not spend much time and will be going back to get more pictures. We spent more time in the various shops looking around as Alan wanted to just show us where the momunments were and then spend the day picking up souvenoirs for the road as he is leaving in a littel over a week. So we will be back. One of the most interesting pieces was this monument called Krishna's Butter Ball, which was a large boulder that looked ready to roll on the people sitting beneath it at any time.

There is nothing holding this boulder in place. It is just there, and the surrounding rock face is shiny and smooth from so many adults and children alike sliding down it. Tempting fate, I would say. We will for sure return to Mahabs and view the monuments up close and of course take more photos.