By taxi or cab
The easiest option is a taxi or app cab down the East Coast Road (ECR), the scenic coastal highway that links Chennai to the town. The drive is roughly 1.5 hours in normal traffic. Many visitors hire a car for the day from Chennai, which makes it simple to add stops like the Madras Crocodile Bank or DakshinaChitra on the way.
By bus
State-run and private buses connect Chennai with Mahabalipuram throughout the day. Services leave from Chennai's major bus terminus and run along the ECR; it is the cheapest way to travel, though slower than a cab with more stops.
By air and rail
There is no airport or major railway station in Mahabalipuram itself. The nearest airport is Chennai International (MAA), about 58 km away. The closest railhead is Chengalpattu, roughly 29 km inland, from where you can continue by road.
Two routes from Chennai
| Route | Character |
|---|---|
| East Coast Road (ECR) | Coastal, scenic, the usual choice |
| Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) | Inland tech corridor, an alternative when ECR is busy |