KERALA VACATION PACKAGES

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 are 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 lakefront, 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 patterns here, a row of tiny brass knobs there, a rampant diety on 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 water all 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 birdcall away, across the Kavanar River. Numerous species include bitterns, brahminy kites, marsh harriers, several varieties of lake herons and of course, and 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 colors.

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