You are here » Home
:
Ayurvedic
Spa Vacations in India :
Coconut Lagoon,
Kumarakom
COCONUT LAGOON, KUMARAKOM
Coconut Lagoon is our attempt to capture
the essence of the Kerala experience and then offer it in a unique setting.
Nothing has been added that does not already belong. And if the comforts of
life enter (as they must), they do so in a way that leaves the harmony
around them undisturbed.
Before you is the great Vembanad lake,
rippling under the vault of an impossibly large sky. Sunlight sparkles on
her waters, tearing the reflection of a passing houseboat into crystal
shards. Darter birds go about their fishy business. Your nostrils fill with
scent- laden ozone.
Peace? Of course there is peace here, but not
silence. Silence is not nature's way. And the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary next
door is full of raucous neighbours.
You sway a little, and the image
changes.
To a timber and tile mansion that seems to belong to this
earth, but to another time.
If you left the comfort of your hammock for
a closer look, you'd see that it is an authentic reconstruction.
Some of its timbers are 200 years old. They were moved here piece by piece,
a legacy of the tharavads of old Kerala.
Accommodations and
Enchantments :
The reception area too, like the homes we mentioned
earlier, is a living piece of Kerala history. It dates from 1860, the
four-cornered open courtyard design an echo of times past. The entire
mansion was painstakingly transplanted from the nearby village of Vaikom in
1993. Relax on the wooden swing before you check in, or wander about,
sipping on a fresh coconut and soaking in the atmosphere.
You can
choose from three kinds of accommodation at Coconut lagoon. The Heritage
Bungalows are compact independent cottages, set in lush lawns along the
canals.
The Heritage Mansions are larger, with an upper story
defined by distinctive wooden ribs that resemble the sides of a boat. Most
of these afford fine views of the lake.
Beyond, on their own quiet
section of lake front, are the Pool Villas. Peace and privacy combine here,
with private pools, distinctive interiors and even your own little hammock,
tied up front.
Take a closer look at any of the accommodations,
and you'll see the minute architectural details that make each of them
distinctive. A trellis pattern here, a row of tiny brass knobs there, a
rampant diety on a 200 year old columnno two houses are exactly the same.
Of course, these old-world touches betray little of the conveniences that
are found within. Air-conditioning, telephones, hot and cold waterall the
comforts of a modern resort are yours to relish.
With one
exception-television. Noisy channel surfing and nature just don't belong
together, as you'll soon discover. (However, for die-hard CNN addicts, there
is a set in the recreation room. May we impose on you to keep the volume
low?).
We cannot pass on without mentioning the bathrooms. This crucial
aspect of hotel living has been given a fresh twist at Coconut Lagoon. The
bathrooms are open-roofed, echoing the outdoor facilities of traditional
Kerala, but of course, incorporating every mod con. So you can shower under
the sheltering sky, yet in complete privacy.
FACTSHEET :
The Heritage Lakeside Resort.
ACCOMMODATION :
Heritage bunglows
Heritage mansions
Private pool villa
RESTAURANTS :
Multi cuisine restaurant (Buffet breakfast,
lunch, dinner)
Theyam - Bar
FACILITIES :
Swimming
pool, Ayurveda centre,recreation centre
Regular doctors on call
NEAREST AIRPORT: 95 km from Cochin international airport
SEASONS: Jan - Mar: cool, dry
April - May:
Summer
June - August: Monsoon
Sept - Dec: pleasant, dry
ADDRESS: Coconut Lagoon
Kumarakom, Kerala, India
Phone: 91-481-2524491
eMail: coconutlagoon@cghearth.com
Ayurveda:
Coconut Lagoon includes a holiday for the inner you.
Ayurveda,the
ancient Indian science of health and longevity, deals with the well-being of
the spirit, as well as the body and mind.
Brought a niggling
ailment along on vacation? A headache or a chronic problem? A little
residual stress? Give ayurveda a chance. The medicines used are completely
natural, completely safe, and there are no side effects at all. Our expert
Vaidyars, trained in traditional medicine, will prescribe for you. Who
knows, you may return, like so many thousands of people, a convert to this
ancient system.
And even if you're in the pink of health, there's
no reason why you shouldn't get some traditional massages, just for the
tremendous feelings of relaxation and joy they bring.
Of course,
regular doctors too are on call from the nearby town, should you feel the
need.
Speaking of goodness, the menu also features Ayurvedic
drinks and foods that have specific restorative, digestive or cooling
effects. Give them a try, especially if you've overindulged a little at your
previous meal!
Nature : To be in the midst of
nature at Coconut Lagoon, you have to do nothing more than leave your room.
Yet, for the more environmentally inclined, there are some fascinating
distractions. The Kumarakom Sanctuary is a bird-call away, across the
Kavanar river. Numerous species include bitterns, brahminy kites, marsh
harriers, several varieties of lake herons and of course, the darter, which
seems to be everywhere at once.
The resort grounds are home to a
profusion of tree species, including many ayurvedic and medicinal plants.
Most of these are labelled, and taking children along for a walk on the
grounds is a fine way to introduce them to the bounties of nature. Set back
between the ayurveda centre and the paddy fields beyond is a little
experiment of ours. A butterfly garden that on a sunny morning, becomes a
tableau of flitting, floating, dancing colours.
Click
Here for Reservation
Home