Jul 15, 2002 08:24 PM
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(Updated May 02, 2003 02:46 PM)
Ever closed your eyes
And wished for wings, to take you away
To a land breathtakingly beautiful, peacefully serene
and wholesomely pristine?
These are lines I borrowed from one of the websites that had some info on Kumarakom, because they aptly sum up all that is heavenly about this place. I could not possibly say it better.
Kumarakom - a tourist destination in Kerala made famous by our PMs sojourn there for rest and recuperation. ''Nature's silent beauty provides a perfect setting here for contemplation'' he wrote in an address to the nation. Kerala, itself, has been rated as one of the Top Ten tourist destinations in the world, by the National Geographic Magazine.
It was a review in Inside Outside (the Interiors magazine) that first prompted me to consider Kumarakom as a candidate for our annual family holiday. The article was all about a place called Lake Resorts - how entire ancient Kerala houses had been transplanted to this site to serve as accommodation for the visitors.
Now, Lake Resorts is but one of the resorts in Kumarakom - a sleepy village that has been woken up and rediscovered itself as a tourist paradise. The resort we ultimately chose to stay in was ''Golden Waters'', because there was a special package worked out for employees of the organisation I was with at that time.
But what seems common to all the 4-5 resorts in Kumarakom that I have heard and read about (Lake Resorts, Golden Waters, Coconut Lagoon, Taj Garden Retreat) is that they :
Are located on the edge of Lake Vembanad, one of the largest lakes in this part of the world
All have cottages with traditional Kerala architecture
All provide Ayurvedic services of some kind
All have packages that include a boat cruise down the lake
Most of them also seem to own a house boat in which you can choose to stay, although this is more expensive than staying in a cottage. These kettuvalloms were earlier built to transport essential commodities and have since been modified as luxury accommodation. I did not try one and hence cannot tell you more.
We took a 3 night package to Golden Waters. To reach there, the best option is to drive down from Kottayam - nearest train station (18kms) or Cochin - nearest airport (about 78 Kms). It took us close to 3 hours to drive down from Cochin airport, but a drive on Kerala roads is always interesting as you never know when you will encounter a elephant being walked around by its mahout or taking a bath in one of the roadside ponds. The greenery also helps reduce some of the weariness of the journey.
We arrived at Kumarakom around lunchtime. The road leading to Golden Waters was a regular dirt path and none too impressive but the sight on turning into the entrance of Golden Waters Resort put all our apprehensions to rest.
Golden Waters has several cottages (28, I think) built on stilts, with an intricate network of canals linking the cottages. Swans swim gracefully under the cottage throughout the day. The cottages themselves are fine examples of Kerala architecture with a lot of woodwork. Quite modern inside, with air-conditioning and bathtubs in the bathrooms.
The multi-cuisine restaurant (Nalluketu) also is a unique example of Kerala architecture. The buffet served here caters to a wide variety of palates - from Chinese to traditional Kerala items. At night, they have local musicians come in to play live music while you enjoy your dinner.
The beautifully designed and landscaped swimming pool beckons invitingly by the side of the lawns leading down to the Vembanad lake.
Cycles are available at the Resort if you wish to explore the village and the environs. There is also a canoe that you can hire to go on a canal trip around the resort, with the option of using the services of an expert oarsman from the resort staff, if you so desire.
Places of tourist interest nearby include the Vembanad Bird Sanctuary, the Thaneermukkam which is actually a dam separating the lake from the sea, the temples of Shiva at Ettumanoor and Thirunakkara in Kottayam, the Cheriapalli and Valiapalli churches, the martial arts centre where Kalaripayattu is taught, the island called Pathiramanal in the middle of the lake, etc.
I cannot wind up this review without a mention about the hospitality of the staff at the resort. Naidu and his team cater to your every need with a smile - our daughter was less than a year old when we visited Kumarakom and we were worried about whether the resort would be able to cater to our requests for sterilising her bottle and filling it with milk every two hours, but they came through with flying colours. And did not even charge us for services provided !
From all reports received, this hospitality is true of the other resorts in Kumarakom too.
If you want to have a laid back holiday in serene surroundings, try Kumarakom - you will never regret it.
Package Costs approx : Rs. 9000 /- for couple with 2 kids for a 3 days, 4 nights package (American Plan).
Check out https://hotelskumarakom.com/goldenwaters/about.htm or https://nivalink.com/goldenwaters/for pictures and more details.
