Romance in Kerala

Day 1 : Kochi - Kumarakom | 64Km | 1.5Hrs

The bewitching backwaters of Kerala were discovered by the elite Indian tourist in the 90’s. But Kumarakom found its place in the sun much more recently, and since then tourism brochures, writers and media have not stopped waxing about this exciting discovery on the backwaters itinerary of Kerala. The truth is that Kumarakom lives up to its hype. Till it was discovered by tourism it was just a sleepy little village on the bank of Kerala’s biggest lake – the Vembanad, inhabited by little more than the fisher folk and the migratory birds that have made the nearby island their home and the odd affluent Christian aristocrat from nearby Kottayam who would hop over for a weekend jaunt in his speed boat to hunt the birds from the sanctuary, which now are fiercely conserved.

Kumarakom one of the most happening destinations in Kerala today with all the leading national and international hospitality brands having set up shop here. Kumarakom boasts of some of the most luxurious and exotic resorts, some of them painfully created from entire nalukettus, the ancestral Malayali homes, dismantled and reassembled for the sake of unadulterated authenticity. Two of the properties are in the heritage category. Most of these resorts are strategically positioned on the banks of the lake to give their guest uninterrupted view and interaction with the languid lagoon. Kumarakom is one of the most beautiful relaxing destinations for Honeymoon Couples.

After Breakfast proceed to Houseboat. A rich tapestry of rivers, estuaries, lagoons, lakes and canals, Kerala has a 1500 kilometer stretch of waterways. The backwater cruises in the traditional houseboats called kettuvalloms is unique to the Kerala brand of tourism and there are few experiences more exotic. The backwaters of Kerala have been used for transportation, fishing and agriculture. The kettuvalloms sport a thatched roof over the wooden hulls and were in earlier days used as grain barges to transport rice and other cargo to the local markets. Today the houseboat is an experience in itself, it is a floating home with all the modern luxury that a resort or hotel provides. With the stunning vistas of equally vivid waterscapes and landscapes that unspool along the sides, a cruise is refreshing as it is restful.

Till recently Kochi was Cochin, a name redolent of its British and colonial past. Today Kochi is at the crossroads of history and modernity. Made up of the twin towns of Fort Kochi and Ernakulam, it still wears a thin veil of historical threads – English, Dutch, Portuguese and Chinees. Kochi, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the most important stop for a true feel of Kochi’s colonial past. With its quaint, old-world charm, and eclectic architectural mix of Dutch, Portuguese, British, Gothic, Renaissance, Indo-European, one is immediately transported to the colonial era. Kochi, in short, is a delightful cocktail of experiences that offers all the flavors of a dream holiday.