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With the IT corridor making a
swift and smooth ride to Mahabalipuram,
youths seeking privacy prefer the heritage town to the crowded
Marina
and Elliots beaches in this metropolitan city.
Mahabalipuram, 60 km from Chennai,
has recently gained popularity as lovers' paradise than a historical
town.
The silver sand beaches blending
with the greenish blue waves provide a lovely setting. Besides, the
availability of sea resorts and hotels attract youths to the
erstwhile seaport of the Pallava kingdom.
A youth in his late twenties, who was with his
girlfriend, said he comes to Mahabalipuram at least once a week with
her. Reluctant to reveal his name, he said both of them were working
in an IT company in Sholinganallur, which is near the heritage town.
He himself knew at least a dozen pair of lovers
coming to Mahabalipuram frequently, he said, while the girl added
that they plan to visit the heritage town even after their marriage.
Manisundaram, a guide working in Mahabalipuram
for the last 20 years, said he had never seen so many youngsters
sitting on the Mahabalipuram beach during the weekends. There were
hundreds of them murmuring sweet nothings to each other on Saturdays
and Sundays, he remarked.
However, he lamented that none of them looked at
the sculptural marvels or sought the help of the guides to know what
was what. Though the visitors had increased, guides did not gain
anything from it, he said.
As per the statistics given by the Tamil Nadu
Tourism Department, the number of domestic visitors to Mahabalipuram
was 6,88,821 in 2001, which had increased to 11,42,690 in 2006. Even
last year, the domestic visitors to the cultural town were 9,20,045
only.
The rapid rise of visitors was due to the the
coastal town gaining popularity among youths who come in pairs or in
batches of even numbers, Manisundaram said. Some of them like to sit
in secluded places, which was dangerous due to the presence of
anti-social elements, he warned, adding open beaches were more safe.
The town, named after the famous Pallava king
Narasimha Varman (630-668), was known for piety, tradition and
history. It is also said the town derived its name from Bali, an
Asura king killed by Lord Vishnu. It was also a centre of
pilgrimage.
The town with cave temples and gigantic open-air
bas reliefs with marvellous carvings found a place in the early
annals of the British as a picturesque town in India. Now, the
temple town has found a place in the hearts of youths as a picnic
spot.
Some of the romantic scenes involving King
Narasimha and his danseuse lover Sivagami in popular writer Kalki’s
historical novel ‘Sivagamiyin Sabatham’ are set in the same
background. Maybe, Mahabalipuram could have been a lovers’ paradise
several centuries ago and the silver waves kissing the beaches might
be carrying the sweet secrets of several centuries. (Agencies)
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