The ancient town of Mahabalipuram was a flourishing sea-port during the days of Periplus (1st century A.D.) and Ptolemy (140 A.D.). Many Indian colonists travelled to South-East Asia from this port town. Apart from these facts, we do not know much about the history of ancient Mahabalipuram. There are too many missing links in its history. And we do not know why almost all the monuments are incomplete.
The major attractions of Mahabalipuram include 14 rock cut cave-temples called mandapas, 9 monolithic shrines called rathas, 4 sculptured relief rock panels and the famous Shore Temple.