Mamallapuram

After leaving school on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. and taking the overnight train to Chennai we, the 6 IGs, arrived by bus at Mamallapuram around 3:30 Friday afternoon. Almost 24 hours later.



We found a hotel right on the beach and then went for lunch at Bob Marley's. The food was delicious and the view was great. We could watch the fishermen bring in their boats and work with their nets. We could also watch the children play.


There was time for the beach and just walking along and enjoying the sand and the sunset before going off to dinner at another beach-side restaurant. I had grilled prawns with onions as my main course. Again we could hear the ocean in the background and we also had a fireworks display as it was Diwali, the festival of lights.


After a very warm night without air-conditioning it was breakfast at our hotel and then out to visit some of the sights. The Shore Temple and Arjuna's Penance, a huge stone carving in the natural rock, were the highlights.

Mamallapuram is a quaint little fishing village. There are many stone carvers who work outside and the sound of their hammers can be heard all through the town.

After a quick lunch we were on our way to Pondicherry. More about that later.