, just north of the city. MAHABALIPURAM RUINS Mahabalipuram ( Tamil : மகாபலிபுரம் ) also known as Mamallapuram ( Tamil : மாமல்லபுரம் ) is a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu . It has an average elevation of 12  metres (39  feet ). Mahabalipuram was a