We visited Mahabalipuram, a town in Tamil Nadu on a long weekend in August. Mahabalipuram is located on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and The Great Salt Lake. The town had a few sightseeing options, and we stayed at this beautiful hotel by the beach. At the end of our weekend getaway, we decided that we could come back to Mahabalipuram any day just to enjoy this luxurious resort and its amenities.
The few tourist attractions in Mahabalipuram weren’t too impressive. There were the Five Rathas, Krishna’s Butter Ball, Tiger Cave and Shore Temple. All of them were unfinished projects that we finished visiting in a day. It was hot but we got some pretty good pictures near the Shore Temple.
Still, we just couldn’t forget about the amazing hotel we stayed in – Kaldan Samudhra Palace. Let us tell you why:
We drove from Bangalore to Ambur, to have dinner (Ambur Star Briyani). Then stopped at Vellore for the night. Then we continued to Mahabalipuram after breakfast the next day, thereby splitting the 8-hour trip so that it was not strenuous and all of us enjoyed the drive.
The hotel was less than 10 minutes from various tourist attractions and had very good restaurants/eateries nearby. So, we had lunch on the way and then checked in.
The hotel welcomed us with cold drinks while we were mesmerized by the chandelier and the overall decor of the reception. We were all given one turban each that many of us, especially the kids, took back home.
Our cars were parked safely by the valet services.
Even the smallest of rooms at Kaldan Samudhra Palace are luxurious. They also have other luxurious rooms to choose from like the Deluxe Twin, Premium King, Premium Palace Suite, Executive Studio Villa and Luxury Villa. Many of them are pool-facing.
There were many activities at the hotel. A room is allotted for activities for younger kids. They have activities like drawing competitions, etc. The older kids explored the hotel and enjoyed jumping in the pool.
During Hi-Tea, we enjoyed some yummy snacks, cool sea breeze and a Rajasthani Folk performance which was quite entertaining. After that, there was a puppet show for the kids.
The dinner buffet was quite good but we just found it overpriced. It was served by the beach and there was good music playing by a live band. My kids also joined them for a couple of songs.
The feature that we loved best was the 144-metre-long swimming pool which was warm and not very deep throughout. It was fun to have the kids play in the pool around us while we took the liberty to dunk a few of our friends into it and have a blast, too.
We went for a good couple spa session at the Anthapuraa Spa. While my husband was not very happy with the noises he could hear outside during his massage, I was super pleased with mine. My bed was away from the door.
But, one thing that I have noticed in many spas is that the therapists are not gentle with the towel that covers the customer. They handle it roughly or leave it casually instead of slowly placing it on your body part. I think when that is also taken care of, the massages become quite close to perfect.
This hotel is located on the beach but we have to walk a little across luscious greens (Sundarabagh Lawn) to reach the clean and serene beach that overlooks the waters of the Bay of Bengal. If you’re lucky, you can get a buggy drop from the hotel to the beach area.
After 6 pm, we were told not to venture out alone on the beach, for safety reasons, as the hotel is surrounded by mostly untouched properties on either side.
We are always motivated to wake up early to enjoy a breakfast buffet. This was no different with its live counters, yummy food and fresh pancakes.
The spread was huge and filled with variety. An empty ballroom also served the same spread just in case the restaurant was full. The servers were quite courteous and helpful, if we required their services.
Staying at Kaldan Samudhra Palace was the most amazing part of our weekend in Mahabalipuram. The swimming pool, the service and the experience on the whole were wonderful enough for us to want to go there again someday soon!
On the way back to Bangalore, we went to the India Seashell Museum with the kids. We spent a couple of hours there. The concepts were quite good with the mineral museum, the dinosaur park, the haunted house, etc. but, as usual, we felt that the place could have been better maintained. For example, the haunted house was too dark, and we finished walking through it in 2 minutes. Some light indications would have been helpful along with more scarier scenes. The dinosaur park could have been better cleaned up. We, adults, did not find it too interesting, though we were amazed at the way everything was made with shells in the ‘mineral museum’. The kids, on the other hand, had a great time everywhere, so the museum is a nice place to visit but mostly for young kids and if you’re around Mahabalipuram.
Have you been to Mahabalipuram? What did you enjoy the most there?
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
28 Comments
I loved the pictures. Kaldan Samudhra is a luxurious place to live in. The warm welcome and the traditional dance pics intrigued me to visit the place soon. Thanks for the recommendation.
Kaldan Samudra is a luxurious stay and especially known for their swimming pool. I’ve seen the property on video reviews..I love how you’ve explained every amenities there. I visited mahabalipuram in August too
Oh wow! We would’ve passed each other somewhere!
The sagar pool looks so relaxing! I feel that Rajasthani welcome is the most regal of all! Fantastic property. Living vicariously through you.
what a lovely holiday getaway! the photos are excellent, and i love your smile and how relaxed you look.
Now i too want to take a nice little vacation and just relax before the busy-ness of the new year begins.
You should, Ishieta!
I haven’t visited Mahabalipuram yet, but your review of Kaldan Samudhra Palace has me intrigued! The combination of beach access, luxurious rooms, and the massive pool sounds like the perfect getaway. I’ll definitely keep this place in mind for future trips!
If you do, I’ll wait for your review of it, Neha!
Oh, beautiful place, must explore it next time. As usual, lovely pics, Cindy.
Thank you, Janaki!
Been to Mahabalipuram but not to the hotel. We often drive to Chennai at one stretch ( ofcourse a break for breakfast and one other for tea) By lunch we reach there .
I love your pictures, each shot is amazing and this place, Kaldan Samudhra Palace sounds like a dream getaway! The luxurious amenities and stunning location make it a must-visit. 🌟
Sounds like a wonderful getaway. Mahabalipuram’s scenic beauty and your luxurious resort stay made for an unforgettable experience. Definitely a place to revisit and relax.
The hotel sounds so worthy buddy and the pics are adorable, sometimes a good stay cover up a few things that don’t go our way
Kaldan Samudhra Palace sounds like a perfect blend of luxury and relaxation. The detailed review highlights its stunning amenities, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking a lavish beachside getaway.
Your pics are so so wonderful, Cindy. They tell their own story and add so much weight to your words. I don’t think I’ll ever visit Samudhra Palace considering I’ve too many relatives living in Chennai. But the luxury of the place truly stands out.
It’s a good resort for family trips, too, Ratna! Try it out!
This indeed looks like a luxury hotel with ample of activities for family and kids. The rooms look quite exotic too.
I’ve heard about Kaldan Samudhra Palace. Long time back, they did a FAM with 30-40 bloggers, I heard it was so chaotic that they never attempted it again. But it sure has good location.
Mahabalipuram is such a lovely place, where nature and heritage, blend together and the Kaldan Samudra Palace seems to be the perfect place to stay and enjoy the vibes of Mahabalipuram. The hotel looks nice and very luxurious with wonderful amenities.
Mahabalipuram is a lovely place, where nature and heritage, blend together. and the Kaldan Samudra Palace seems to be the perfect place to stay and enjoy the vibes of Mahabalipuram. The hotel looks nice and luxurious with wonderful amenities.
I am already sold on the proximity to the beach and huge rooms while also being close to tourist attractions. I love how well balanced your reviews are taking into consideration the kids activities, the food and even the spa sessions.Was the Spa complimentary ?
Nope. We paid for the spa but got a discount.
A nice blogpost on Kaldan Samudhra Palace. Hotel seems to be a nice place to stay and enjoy with family. Photographs are also nice. I always imagines staying in a great place close to the sea. One surprise was Rajasthani welcome in Tamil Nadu!
Yeah, that one surprised us, too!
Hey, I’ve lived in Chennai most of my life and been to Mahabalipuram since the place was called Madras. These shore temples and architectural landmarks are replete with history going back millennia. You can read more about it in The Golden Road by William Dalrymple.
I just loved the ambiance of this palace… it is indeed royal and stunning in every sense. I would also love to enjoy a stay here whenever I am visiting this destination with family. I stayed in Beach side resort in Goa and the feel was just awesome as I am in love with the sea so this palace stay will also be a grand stay for me I am 100% sure. I cant stop praising your beauty gorgeous lady…. so charismatic and beautiful you are Cindy ….
HAha, you’re sweet. Thank you, Samata!