Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom, Kerala,India

,The trip to Coconut Lagoon this year was an impulsive trip. I had never been to the much acclaimed backwaters of Kerala. Thus, on an impulse my husband and I inquired about the room availability at the Coconut Lagoon Resort at Kumarakom and before we knew it, we had hit the road - destination Kumarakom.

An hour's drive from Cochin took us to Chertala where we parked the car and resumed the remaining journey to the resort by boat.

Boat trip to the resort

A thirty minutes of the boat journey brought us to the Coconut Lagoon resort where we were ushered into our rooms by an efficient staff. WOW! That was my first reaction to the cottage we were about to stay. What I loved was the open bath, yet discreet; I might not have one in my home for instance, but for a resort, it suited well! The cottage was a duplex with a sitting area in the ground floor and the bedroom at the mezzanine. The bedroom in itself was impressive fashioned in traditional Kerala style and sported a traditional pedestal bed. The bedroom being at an elevation provides an excellent view of the Vembanad lagoon.

The view from the bedroom

With the intention of attracting the tourists, they have opened a store where you get handicrafts, antiques and souvenirs. They provide training in tabla to those who are interested during their stay there. The food was mediocre, but they have a highly efficient staff well trained in the hospitality.

That evening we went for a swim in the pool which overlooked the lake. Except for the scenic beauty it provided, the pool was impractical. Bar a very small portion, swimming was impossible in the rest of the area as it is very shallow. I think they have built it to just lie in the floor of the pool and watch the lake.

The next day we paid a visit to the "butterfly park" carved out in a small part of the resort. There were a few varieties of butterflies flying around in the natural setting. The water body around which the park is built had fishes and turtles much to the fascination of my daughter. Even though it is more of a gimmick, it does serve a safe haven for the butterflies otherwise displaced by the hordes of tourists. It also provides a discreet getaway for the younger patrons of the resort.

The Butterfly Park

That afternoon we checked into their houseboat for a ride through the backwaters and a night in the "kettuvallom" or the traditional houseboat of Kerala. The trip through the backwaters enthralled me by its sheer beauty.

Kettuvallom on the Water Highway

Water is the only mode of transport in many regions in this part of the world. The houses are built on a small stretch of land with water on both sides. Imagine their plight during monsoons! The peak hours saw a great number of boats sailing through these canals. Boat being the only mode of transportation, I could see them "parked" outside the homes; the size varying with the people. Enroute we had to pass a "road block" created by ducks who decided to go for a swim which my daughter loved watching.





I am always bewitched by sunrise and sunset. Watching sunset in the luxury of the houseboat was indeed an experience.I have always felt that sunrise and sunset can make any place alluring.

Sunset

We spent a magical night with the boat anchored in the middle of the lake with the sound of water lapping our boat under the star studded sky - something poor Bangaloreans no longer experience thanks to the light pollution. It was disheartening to notice that light pollution to a small degree pervaded these places. We woke up in the morning to watch the fishermen busy on their morning trawl.

A new dawn in the backwaters

Our plan and vacation came to an abrupt end when my daughter suffered a swollen foot probably from an insect bite. That brought an end to an enchanting journey through the canals of Kerala.