Before I make my way to the InterContinental Hotel in Mamallapuram, a group of early risers tells me that it is imperative to wake up at the crack of dawn and walk down to the beach off the premises of this five-star hotel that has been recently renovated. “The sunrise there is magical, bewitching, fascinating, magnificent,” they say, prattling off one-too-many synonyms.
As someone who has lived in Chennai for decades, I am reluctant to fall for this propaganda because I have seen many great, some decent, and other utterly unimpressive sunrises off the Coromandel coast. We keep ledgers for those kinds of things around here. The cosmos’ rising star has a stellar PR team and I have no intentions of falling for this mornings-are-best-campaign. I would rather sleep in and lounge in my room that comes with my very own plunge pool.
To my surprise and delight, this works perfectly at InterContinental as the property seems to come alive in the evenings.
InterContinental Mamallapuram | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sky, stars, and perforated hearts
Nasrat Hasnain Mondal, a marketing executive, who walks me through this property that began operating again in May 2026 post a renovation spanning a little over a year and costing multi-million dollars, says that the 15-acre resort has now introduced a proposal deck as part of its latest addition. This, to me, stands out in their slate of other changes including ‘expansive beach lawns, restaurants and bars, luxury suites with plunge pools, a sports pavilion, scenic walking trails, and a winding meditation garden for mindful experiences’.
Back when this hotel first opened its doors to guests in India in 2015 [the first hotel from the chain dates back to 1965], they made an effort to centre the property’s gaze on the Bay of Bengal. KoKoMmo, their legendary beach shack where waves and crabs would swing by for a quick ‘hello’ between swigs of cocktails, was opened as an evening dining restaurant, as part of this campaign.
A special restaurant set up at KokoMmo | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Looks like one too many people were kneeling in the sand and popping the big “marry me?” here as the beach served as the perfect spot for ‘forevers’. Building on this, InterContinental launched Viora Sky Lounge.
If you step in, you might notice a gigantic heart stretched between the bar’s two levels – one outdoors and another indoors – with a view of the sea and the rhythmic sound of crashing waves. It is where the lovers will now be relegated.
“The whole stretch along the East Coast Road has become quite the hub for different forms of elaborate proposals between lovers. Most of them are planned as surprises. In the beginning, they brought their own props. We began offering that as a service here. If you are by the coast, the beach automatically turns into a spot for romance,” he says.
The deck overlooking InterContinental | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
It is why for a charge, one can avail Dine by Design, a service where one can feast under a special cabana closest to the shore and furthest away from other tables at KoKoMmo, for special occasions including dates. The setting, decorated in a dizzying array of fairy lights with a handful of excellent cocktails (we recommend the Asian Pina and the Hibiscus G&T) makes for a solid addition to photo albums that are now coming alive again now that Gen Z has embraced the film camera and its expensive rolls. They were not lying when they said that love indeed comes at a cost. A sight like this though, particularly at night, is worth it.
By the pool | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Segueing from here, Nasrat adds that the InterContinental has now constructed the Vaibhava ballroom, a sea-facing venue spanning over 12,000 sq ft, a setting for Indian weddings by the beach if the proposals go well. If they do not, join me at the buffet lunch at their expansive beach lawns that have been differently landscaped with the intention to invite those who would like to celebrate.
“Currently, a bunch of corporate events are being held at our ballrooms, besides some weddings and get-togethers. However, we want to be part of bigger memories. It is why we are offering curated packages for celebrating proposals, weddings, and anniversaries,” Nasrat says.
Just two days of eating opulent food is enough to lull me into deep slumber, restful though. This is, after all, more celebration than I am used to. Hence, on my last night at the property, I am in bed by 9pm and somehow, as though cursed, cruelly awake at 5am the following day. Looks like I have no choice but to battle that sunrise before check out. Oh, well.
Simmer down
InterContinental has also reopened its flagship restaurants -- The Melting Pot (multi-cuisine buffet) and Tao of Peng (Pan-Asian) as part of the renovation. Executive Chef Meril Antony Aricatt at The Melting Pot who brings me a sumptuous North Indian plate replete with thick, juicy pieces of butter chicken and prawn kebabs, says that the brief at the hotel is to offer personalised service to as many customers as possible. “It is why we have so many guests who keep coming back,” he adds.
InterContinental’s 110 rooms have been also been redone as part of the exercise to accommodate chic new living spaces, jacuzzis, steam rooms, private plunge pools, and the like, based on the suites chosen for those who’d like to lounge in silence between meals, watching cable TV, and napping as days stretch into nights. For the more adventurous of the lot, there is always Mamallapuram.
KokoMMo’s Dine by Design for two guests is priced at ₹25,000 plus taxes. It involves a special chef-curated menu, a bouquet and a cake along with the props. Rooms at InterContinental begin at ₹15,300 plus taxes inclusive of breakfast.
The author was at InterContinental Chennai on invitation of the hotel.