• Home
• /
• Entertainment

'WATER' WAY TO RELAX

Lush greenery, quiet backwaters and elegant cottages make Kumarakom Lake Resort in central Kerala one of the most sought-after holiday destinations among those wishing to stay away from the crowds. It is frequented more and more by celebrities from far and wide, ...

including many visitors from the Middle East. Kumarakom Lake Resort in central Kerala is fast becoming a top tourist destination for people looking for a lakeside holiday.

'The resort attracted a lot of attention recently when Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of Sonia Gandhi, the Indian Opposition leader stayed there,' says Eby Thomas who is marketing the resort in the Middle East.

'Of course Kumarakom itself was in the limelight when the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee holidayed at one of the other resorts there.'

More and more visitors from this region are frequenting the Kumarakom Lake Resort where several old ancestral homes of Kerala have been transplanted and painstakingly recreated to create the ethnic ambience by the promoters. The sprawling Kerala mansions like 'Ettukuttu', 'Nalukettu' and 'Manas' have been bought and brought here to be converted into cottages and Ayurvedic treatment centres.

'The concept has been liked by many. We get more than 200 visitors from the Middle East every year,' says Eby.

Lush greenery, quiet backwaters with the gentle sound of water slapping on the banks and cottages and villas located far, far from the madding crowd. If you are looking for a place to ease stress away, Kumarakom Lake Resorts may be what you should look for.

Bestowed with the Heritage Resort status, the Kumarakom Lake Resort is spread over 25 acres. Twenty-two cottages, built in traditional Kerala style, overlook the huge lake. Decorated with murals, they offer modern comforts. Besides there are 28 well-appointed poolside villas and two Presidential suites facing the lake with private swimming pools.

The resorts offer several options - Ayurvedic care, boat rides, fishing expeditions and so on. At the Ayurmana, a host of Ayurvedic packages are offered. Whether it is to drive the blues away, feel rejuvenated, lose weight or a session of yoga, the Ayurmana has all the facilities. Located in a traditional 'nalukettu' (a mansion built around a courtyard), the Ayurmana has been awarded the Green Leaf certification by the Kerala Government, which is a certificate of authenticity given to ayurvedic practitioners.

'Our ‘Kettuvallom’, which is a traditional rice boat, is very popular with tourists for a relaxing trip on the backwaters,' Eby says. 'We also have the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary close by where you can sight migratory birds.' In the evenings, cultural performances give you a peek into the rich heritage of Kerala.

At the villas in the resort the ambience of a traditional Kerala homestead is recreated with wood-panelled walls, angular lattice worked roofs, carved gabled fronts, brass inlayed tables, oval shaped mirrors. An antique shop offers you the opportunity to take home some souvenirs.

At the 200-year-old 'ettukettu' (a mansion with two courtyards), is a restaurant that offers a cuisine that cuts across cultures. Besides Kerala cuisine, the place also has Continental, Oriental and Mughlai cuisine.

A health club, children's playroom and recreation room are among the facilities available. And an Internet cafe gives you the option of staying in touch with your world even in the midst of a picturesque holiday.