Kerala, the tropical state of Southern India is pretty famous for its palm-fringed beaches and backwaters. The backwaters of Kerala is one of its major tourist attraction being unique to the state. The scenic backwaters of Kerala comprise of 38 rivers, 5 lakes and 1500 km stretch of canals which is a mix of both manmade and natural ones.
Traditionally used as one of the main passage of transportation, today a lot of backwater cruises use the alleyways to offer a rejuvenating experience for the tourists. The backwaters can be explored in a day or more by hiring houseboats which again can be either for a few hours or an entire day.
So, I happen to visit Kerala for some personal work with my husband in the month of September. I quickly thought of extending our stay and visit the gorgeous property of Kumarakom Lake Resort set in the backdrop of lake Vembanad in Kumarakom. They have their very own massage centre offering excellent Ayurvedic massages. Kerala is known for its Ayurvedic messages for over 3000 years now. Oh Yeah! You wouldn't want to miss this opportunity.
We decided to split our stay between their heritage lake view villa and the two-bed houseboat. You got to stay in a houseboat at least for a night when in Kerala and I bet you will not regret!
The villa was fantastic offering panoramic views of the lake and a private pool with jacuzzi.
The two bedroom air-conditioned houseboat offered by Kumarakom Lake Resort is absolutely gorgeous. They have made sure to design their houseboats as per the traditional norms yet equip the boat with all the luxurious and modern amenities. The houseboat features two bedrooms, dining area, kitchen and a deck. The bedroom is so cosy with a comfortable bed and also is equipped with a television and DVD set. The bedrooms also offer views of the surroundings. One thing I am very sure of is that the houseboats offered by Kumarakom Lake Resort is the best and is worth every penny. Though the pricing is on the higher side as compared to the other houseboats, the quality, comfort and luxury provided by Kumarakom Lake Resort have no comparison whatsoever!
The cost to rent the houseboat varies as per the season. I ended up paying approximately 18000 INR per day which is all inclusive of the food and beverages provided onboard.
The helmsman of the boat, a cook and a butler will accompany you on your journey to make it as comfortable and personalized as possible. Make sure to fill up the form specifying your preferences for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the reception a day before you board the boat. In case you are directly renting the houseboat, communicate to the hotel staff via an email.
The food prepared by the cook onboard was so appetizing that we couldn't stop binging. They treat you really well and take care of your needs to perfection.
The boat has a beautiful outdoor seating with coffee tables and loungers to sit back and enjoy the idyllic views of the backwaters. We spent most of our time on the deck, lounging with drinks and gazing over the greenery-fringed scenery.
They also have an air-conditioned glass room behind the deck area with dining furniture offering uninterrupted views!
We started cruising towards Alleppey around noon and the cook onboard had already started preparing a 3-course lunch for us. Alleppey is widely known as the 'Venice of the East' due to the large network of the inland canals. Cruising along these canals gives you a brief idea about the life of the people along the banks. We cruised past beautiful scenery of paddy fields, lotus ponds and innumerable coconut trees. We were totally mesmerized by the tranquillity of this place.
You have an option to dock the houseboat either in Alleppey or at the resort. If you choose to dock the boat at the resort, your cruising time is reduced by two hours and you will not be able to catch the magnificent sunset.
We chose to dock our boat in Alleppey which gave us the opportunity to witness an absolutely breathtaking sunset. Boy, the sky was on fire or what! It is an experience to dock the boat in the middle of nowhere and spend the night under clear starry skies.
We saw a lot of houseboats on our way to Alleppey and this was no doubt, the best. It was truly magical to float right through the incredible and untouched scenery of Kerala.
We started cruising back to the resort next day early in the morning. It was amazing to wake up to breathtaking views from our bedroom windows. We were offered coffee and cookies as soon as we woke up. We reached right on time for breakfast at the restaurant of the resort.
The resort has an amazing infinity pool overlooking the gorgeous lake. We absolutely enjoyed ordering cocktails by the pool for sundowners.
We had a lovely two-day getaway at this fabulous resort and I hope to return sometime soon!
Until next time.. Cheers!
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