Kerala has been one of my favourite destinations since the start of my travel blogging career, well it might be because we started off the best of our blogging from there. Although it has been our 4th visit since the last two years, it was my first visit to its backwaters. I am heading to Kumarakom where Niraamaya Retreats have opened up their newest property. The hotel, located on the shores of the gigantic Kumarakom Lake is an oasis of green and has been made up in a traditional Malayali style, which wood and terracotta dominating the scenes against a beautiful backdrop of blue skies and lush green vegetation.
The Kumarakom Retreats is a perfect break away from the fast life of the city and relaxes you. The resort has a number of cottages overlooking the lake. As I make my way to my room on the first floor, I am struck by a heat wave that seems to be building up in the tropical parts of the country already. But as the air conditioner in my room chugs, I finally begin to relax and enjoy. Each of the cottages has two floors: the top one with a view of all the greenery and the lake while the bottom one opens onto a private pool. Each of the rooms has a mix of traditional and modern elements with a gigantic bed dominating the frame. Just like quite a few of the luxurious Fort Hotels I have been to, the rooms here are quite spacious and roomy.
Let’s get to the food now. Niraamaya has always had a strong hold on their cuisine and the way they present their food and their new hotel is no less. Not only does it offer some traditional South Indian food with a range of Dosas for breakfast along with a traditional Sadhya meal for Lunch that you must try out, there’s also some North Indian, Continental and Chinese food that act as good change of flavour. Do check out this lovely compilation of pictures of how the Sadhya gets plated up.
Niraamaya also offers a plethora of activities to choose from. I decide to start off with a relaxing spa massage at their Spa centre which has eight treatment rooms and a whole range of treatments to get you all relaxed. Try out the meditation and yoga classes to add onto that. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is literally a five minute drive from the resort and offers a great chance to reconnect with nature. My three hour walk through this trail consisted of seeing migratory birds from all over the world but one of the best views is from above the treeline as all of these majestic creatures take flight. Another activity that enamored me quite a bit was taking a trip down the Kumarakom Lake while the Sun sets in the horizon.
Kumarakom in the back waters of Kerala is one place you must head to putting back all your stresses of the city life behind.
