Getting There & Away -- Mahabalipurum is 2 hours south of Chennai, on the East Coast Highway. Buses from Chennai arrive and depart every half-hour from the suburban Koyambedu bus stand (state-owned buses at Mofussil and private buses at Omni stand). Pondicherry is around 40 minutes away by road.
Visitor Information -- The Government of Tamil Nadu Tourist Office (Kovalam Rd.; tel. 04114/242-232; Mon-Fri 10am-5:45pm) can supply you with limited information (like a map of Tamil Nadu) and a few booklets on the town. Peak season is December to February; July and August, when the French are on holiday, is also busy.
Getting Around -- All of the town's attractions can be reached on foot, or you can catch an auto-rickshaw.
