Paradise unveiled at The Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram

The sun was bidding adieu for the day when we reached Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram which is another name for this ancient town which lies about 60 kilometers away from Chennai, the bustling metropolis of Southern India. The history of Mahabalipuram can be traced back to the 1st century when it was known to the world as a thriving seaport.

Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram

After an unforgettable experience at Radisson Blu Hotel GRT, Chennai, our group was looking forward to an exciting experience which would spread over 2 nights and 3 days at a beach resort – the Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram.

Our bus turned into a huge archway that led us into the sprawling premises of the Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram, and we all alighted to be greeted by a cool evening sea breeze.

The Welcome

We were ushered into the main lobby of the hotel where we were greeted with seashell garlands and tender coconut water, aesthetically presented in the coconut shells itself. Above all the welcome was generously seasoned with warmth and smiles by the Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram team.

We could all sense the promise of paradise in those initial moments itself.

Our Place of Nesting

An environment-friendly electric Buggy transported us across the sprawling resort to our assigned room which happened to be a chalet with a lovely sea-view balcony that looked out towards the waters of the Bay of Bengal. The Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram offers a choice of Standard Chalets, Pool View Chalets, Sea View Chalets, Pool Villas and Business Class Rooms for guests based on their requirements.

Our room was a haven of comfort and was equipped with comfortable beds, mini-bar, Coffee-Maker, Sofa, LCD TV, and had a spacious Bathroom with a bath tub to luxuriate in. A towel arranged in the shape of a cute dog looked welcomingly at us.

The Balcony looked across the sprawling and verdant grounds of the Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay and we could see palm trees swaying in the distance and the gray shape of the sea looming behind them.

Dinner and Much More

After a couple of hours of relaxation in our chalet, we made our way towards the lawns which bordered the sea for that was the venue for Dinner. Elegantly laid and uniquely decorated buffet counters were neatly arranged on the lawns and we were welcomed by the smiling staff who were dressed in traditional attire, befitting the theme of the night. We settled down in our comfortable chairs, breathing in large gulps of the sea breeze that wafted across from the shore, looking forward to a sumptuous dinner by the side of the Bay of Bengal.

But dinner had to wait, there was a surprise in store for us.

The night soon erupted into dazzling brilliance as we were treated to some unique and traditional performances of dance and music. The artistes also performed some daring acts of jugglery, balancing and literally playing with fire. This was followed by the floor opening up for everyone to shake a leg to some tantalizing numbers expertly mixed by the DJ of the night. The night literally came alive as dance and music added their intoxicating tinge to the proceedings.

Dinner was an array of lovingly crafted traditional vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, cooked and presented in traditional style. From starters to the desserts each dish had a story to tell of its own culinary journey and mirrored the rich traditions, culture, and heritage of the region. The food, the setting, the dance and the music blended with hospitality transformed a summer night into an unforgettable experience.

The revelry continued, but we took our leave as we needed to be up early morning, the next day for we had a rendezvous with the rising sun. Being the avid sun chasers that we were or call it that Sunfascination is in our DNA, we were not going to let the opportunity of watching the sun rise from the waters of the Bay of Bengal let go. The early morning also held the lure of a catamaran ride into the sea.

Indulgence for the Senses on Day-2

A Hypnotic Sunrise on the Beach

After getting some high quality sleep in the comfort of our chalet at The Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram. we woke up when it was still dark and brewed ourselves some hot and steaming coffee in the coffee maker. Fully energized and charged, we walked out into the cusp of another day that promised to be as exciting as the one preceding it.

We walked through the grounds to reach the beach. The sounds of the waves crashing on the sands merged with the early morning cries of birds to create nature’s own musical masterpiece. The light had broken over the horizon where sea met sky, but the sun was not visible due to the cloud cover. We waited patiently, sometimes sitting on the catamaran moored on the sands, sometimes walking along the virgin sands and watching the waves and listening to the musical melody that nature had arranged for us.

We watched a big wave rise in the distance and break on the sands, the water receding back gracefully. A crab washed ashore, shyly scampered away from our watchful eyes and then the sun broke through the clouds, bathing the land and water in an ethereal golden glow. The familiar thrill of pure bliss engulfed our beings as we looked in awe at the celestial beauty of the sun and its early morning splendour.

Our mind and soul feeling strangely calmed and meditative, we looked forward to an early morning foray into the sea, however it was not to be, we were informed that the weather conditions were not safe enough to venture into the sea that day, so our catamaran dreams, seemed to be shattered. But never mind, we thought, we would return back to The Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram some other day to experience the thrill of the catamaran.

A Leisurely walk and a sumptuous Breakfast

We chose to walk from the beach through the enchantingly landscaped grounds of The Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay by GRT Hotels, Mamallapuram to Waters Edge, the restaurant where a delectable breakfast spread awaited us.

As we walked along neatly laid paths and artistically landscaped gardens we realized how the property had been seamlessly integrated with nature and seemed to be one with the environment. There was not one single structure that was jarring to the senses, each tree, each building seemed to belong where they stood.

The meandering pool, one of the largest of its kind ubiquitously flowed gracefully crisscrossing the property.