A perfect weekend in Mahabalipuram

If you are yearning for a perfect weekend from Bangalore, alongside the sea, without driving too long. Then Mahabalipuram can provide you with the perfect options.

Years back, we explored the town of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram). As a part of this trip we visited the places to see in Mahabalipuram including some UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some famous places include the Shore Temple, Krishna Butter Ball, the Caves of Mahabalipuram, Panch Pandavas, Maritime Museum, Lighthouse Museum & the Lighthouse, Crocodile Park and Sea Shell Museum. The trip was a perfect one, except for the stay. As we couldn’t find a good stay option. There were limited options then. And we had also made booking at last moment. Fast forward to this year. And there are many beautiful Mahabalipuram resorts that have come up along the beach, on the Chennai – ECR road. So, whether you are looking for a luxury resort in Mahabalipuram or a one day stay resort in Mahabalipuram. A resort in Mahabalipuram for family or a resort in Mahabalipuram for couples, you will be spoilt by choices. And one resort that fits all the criteria is Radisson Blu, Temple Bay Mahabalipuram.

This time, we decided to spend a weekend in Mahabalipuram, staying at Radisson Blu, Temple Bay Mahabalipuram. Let us take you with us on a luxury weekend getaway from Bangalore. And show how this trip went.

Drive from Bangalore to Mahabalipuram

The drive from Bangalore to Mahabalipuram is halfway scenic and halfway a little stretch. Because of construction work going on in parts. Hope that completes soon. And then the drive from Bangalore to Mahabalipuram will be a breeze. However, Mahabalipuram makes for a perfect weekend getaway from Chennai. As it is just 50km away. Anyways, coming back to our story, we started around 6:30am in the morning from our home. And took the Krishnagiri route to Mahabalipuram. Although google suggested to drive via a shorter route through Kolar. But that road mostly consists of state highways and narrower roads. So, we instead took the Krishnagiri stretch.

For breakfast, we stopped at the food court complex in Krishnagiri. We have stopped here several times before on our trip to Kodaikanal, while driving to Madurai and Pondicherry. The complex has only got better. There is an option of refuelling your vehicle here. The restrooms are clean. And there are several food outlets including a South Indian outlet, a MacD and a Cafe Coffee Day.

 

Ideally, this is the route to follow : Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Ambur – Vellore – Kanchipuram – Chengalpattu – Mahabalipuram

For most part, this route runs through NH 44 and NH 48, both of which are in perfect condition. However, the stretch from Kanchipuram – Chengalpattu involves some highway construction work at the time of this writing. Which can slow you down a bit. Nevertheless, we took this route and reached our resort – Radisson Blu Temple Bay Mahabalipuram – by 3:00pm.

The check-in at Radisson Blu Temple Bay Mahabalipuram

If you are looking for a Mahabalipuram Resort for family stay, this is it. Radisson Blu Temple Bay was a perfect choice for our weekend getaway at Mahabalipuram. It started impressing us right from the check-in process. It was smooth check-in. Although there was some more time before our rooms could be available. So, we headed to their restaurant, right behind the reception area. And had lunch. The lady at the reception came down to the restaurant and handed us our keys there.

After finishing lunch, we started for our rooms. The Radisson Blu Temple Bay Mahabalipuram resort is spread in 44 acres of lush green, landscaped gardens. It is divided in two phases. One that offers stunning views of the gardens and it’s swimming pool, which is the largest swimming pool in India and one of the largest in Asia.

While. the second phase is near to the sea. And provides ocean view rooms and chalets. We were lucky. Although we booked a garden facing villa. But we got sea facing room on the first floor. Which also had a view of the infinity pool.

The room at Radisson Blu Temple Bay Mahabalipuram

Our room had a decent size. With one king size bed and one sofa bed, it could easily accommodate the 4 of us. And the attached balcony had beautiful view of the sea and the infinity pool. The bathroom was also well appointed. Although it could have been bigger and better. (Expecting slightly more when at a resort like the Radisson Blu Temple Bay :))

Activities we enjoyed during our weekend in Mahabalipuram

There are loads of activities that one can enjoy during a weekend in Mahabalipuram. Radisson Blu Temple Bay and the likes provide many of these right inside the campus. So, you can have a perfect relaxing but not at all boring weekend. After having lunch, we proceeded to our room. And after getting fresh there, we headed first to the beach. From there, we came back and enjoyed a dip in the infinity swimming pool located at this phase of the resort. And then had a leisurely walk around the campus, all the way to the restaurant. Where we settled down for dinner.

Post dinner, we all retired for bed. The next morning, we enjoyed another dip in the pool. And then headed for breakfast. Post breakfast, the kids had a gala time at the play area. Enjoying different outdoor games available. We also tried our hands on bicycling around the campus. However, Here’s some of the activities that you can enjoy on a weekend in Mahabalipuram in a resort like The Temple Bay.

Beach & Water activities in the sea

The Bay of Bengal at this stretch is actually rough, not very ideal for swimming. Unlike the beaches of Goa. But, you can always enjoy sitting alongside the beach. And seeing the waves crash against the shore (One of my favourite activities!! ). On my last visit, there were boat – men who gave us a ride onto the sea in the boat. And we caught glimpses of some submerged ancient temples. Also, those interested dived into the sea and enjoyed a swim in the middle of nowhere :). You can also catch a glimpse of the Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram across the sea if you are staying at Radisson Blu Temple Bay.

Sumptuous Food

Food is definitely a highlight of weekend getaway at Mahabalipuram. And when you are staying in a resort like Radisson Blu, there are infinite options to try. I suggest you opt for the buffet dinner and breakfast. And if possible, get them included in the package. The cost is little bit on the higher side. But then it is not every other day that you enjoy a relaxing enormous spread of mouth watering food with your family. And the ambiance is also very beautiful. For our kids, the highlight was sitting besides the fish tank and observing the fishes swim while we had our meal.

Swimming

When in a resort like Radisson Blu Temple Bay, you have got to enjoy the swimming pool. This resort boasts of the largest swimming pool in India. There are several kids pool sections along the main swimming pool. And the pool depth is not much, it is mostly 4 ft. This means, with supervision and aid, you can have even kids enjoy in the main pool with parents. And moreover, those who can’t swim, can as well enjoy a walk in the pool 😀

Apart from the main swimming pool, the resort we stayed in also has an infinity pool near the sea. We spent quiet some time there as well. There are decent shower and changing room facilities as well around the pool. Don’t forget to pack your swimwear. Because dress code is strictly adhered to here.

A leisurely walk around the campus

With several lush green landscaped lawns and gardens, a luxury resort always calls for a leisurely walk around the campus. We had several while we were at Radisson Blu Temple Bay for one night. These included walk from one phase of the resort where we stayed to the other where the restaurant was there. Also a walk around the campus just exploring the lawns, gardens and other facilities. And a walk towards the beach, and the backside lawn. There is a shack also inside the campus, overlooking the beach, where you can enjoy some snacks and drinks while enjoying the sea waves. By the way, you can also cycle around the campus. However, there is a nominal rate charged for the bicycles.

Indoor Games

There are several indoor games available in the resort like chess, carrom, table tennis, foosball to name a few. These are scattered across the lobby and reception areas of phase one and phase two. You can ask the staff and they will be more than happy to direct you to one.

Outdoor Games

While there are a lot of indoor games, there is an equally exciting list of outdoor games that one can enjoy at the Radisson Blu Temple Bay, while spending a weekend in Mahabalipuram. These include ATV rides, boat adventures, and scuba diving. Also, more relaxed games like archery are also available.

Library & Books

If you are not that much into games and sports, worry not. There is also a small library at the campus from where you can lend books. And then relax and read. There are so many relaxing spots to enjoy your read. Some of my favourite ones will be the sun deck alongside the pool, the sea facing shack, the lawn & gardens and even the balcony of the room with breathtaking views and soothing wind! With such beautiful spots to finish my reading, I would finish the whole library here. But then, there is only so much you can do on a weekend in Mahabalipuram. However, you can always extend your stay by a day or two if you want to enjoy all the activities.

Special activities arranged for kids & adults

Apart from the above mentioned regular activities, resorts like the Temple Bay also arrange for several special activities on a daily basis. For both adults and kids. Some of these include magic shows, culinary classes and hands on, pottery, nature walk, heritage walk etc. So, be a sport and try some of these activities while here.

Spa

There is an in house spa facility in the resort as well. And I am sure it will be available in other resorts also. So, do enjoy a relaxing spa treatment when planning a weekend in Mahabalipuram in one of these resorts.

Exploring the town

Last but not the least, on a longer stay, you must step out and enjoy the town and it’s heritage if you haven’t already. The town of Mamallapuram has a lot to offer in terms of places to see and things to do. Refer to our blog on Mahabalipuram covering all the places to visit. But do note, this requires a minimum of one extra day of stay.

General tips on how to enjoy a perfect weekend in Mahabalipuram

• May – October will be a good time to visit here. It rains once in a while, but the cloudy weather provides relief from otherwise hot and humid climate. It rains more in this area and is hotter towards the end of the year. We went on our first trip in December and the second one in June. And we found the June one as more pleasing.
• Do pack your swimwear and very light, breezy summer cloths.
• Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and hat for added protection
• If driving from Bangalore, start early in the morning to beat the traffic. It will take a total of 7-8 hours to reach Mahabalipuram, depending on the number of breaks you take.
• But if driving from Chennai, you can reach here in 1-2 hours. Same when driving from Pondicherry. So, you can club your trip to Pondicherry also with a trip to Mahabalipuram if you ave 3-4 days to spare.
• Book in advance, particularly if you are planning to book one of these luxury and popular beach side resorts in Mahabalipuram.
• Apart from the Radisson Blu Temple Bay, there are several other beautiful resorts in this area. Including The Taj Fisherman’s cove, WelcomHotel by ITC, Grand Bay resort and spa etc. to name a few.

 

You can book Radisson Blu Mahabalipuram from our partner booking.com by clicking on the link here. There are several other nice hotels on this stretch along the Bay of Bengal on East Coast Road. If you are not able to book Radisson Blu Mahabalipuram, you can always book another one by clicking here.

 

PS: This was NOT a sponsored stay. All opinions expressed in the post are my own.

PS: Some of our links are affiliated, this means we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product by clicking those links. However, this will have no extra cost for you.