To God's Own Country in the Mercedes B-Class
I woke up to a polite announcement, "Please fasten your seat belt, we will be landing in Kochi shortly." I turned my head to gaze out of the window to find we were flying over a bed of coconut trees and snaking river channels. This brought back the memory of the last time I was surrounded by such plush greenery and water; in the early '90s, sitting with my grandmother wearing a white kurta pyjama. I was surrounded by such serenity, but I never fully appreciated it as a child. However, growing up in a bustling and crowded city like Mumbai, where your eardrums are subjected to constant noise, revisiting the same tranquility gave me a chance to make the most of this environment this time around.
As I drove onto the narrow bumpy roads of town towards Alleppey with Ashok, our Mercedes B-Class battled the rough, unfinished roads with great comfort and ease. Navigating through the red soiled city in style, I couldn't help but admire the B's classic design, trademark tail-lamps and plush interiors.
Within 50km of our drive, we arrived at a jetty, from where we were whisked onto a ferry that led us through the beautiful Kerala backwaters, sailing past the iconic houseboats. Our journey concluded when our boat docked right in front of the rustic Coconut Lagoon resort reception, fully decked with wild flowers.
A floating island, Coconut Lagoon is situated on Vembanad Lake and surrounded by shimmering canal waters that are intertwined within this charismatic property. Exuding an old-world charm, this resort is a perfect getaway from hectic city life.
Coconut Lagoon is located in Kerala's district of Kuttanad, or the land of the short people. Legend has it that this name came about because the folk here are always knee deep in paddy fields, hence they look shorter than normal. Its distinctive architecture too has tales to tell of restoration and conservation of a fading world. The resort has preserved the vast heritage of the old feudal villages of Malabar by rebuilding their mansions credited to the dedication, skills and devotion of the Aasaris, descendents of the master craftsmen who had originally created these dwellings.
Not restricted only to visitors, their property is open to villagers for rice cultivation and fishing. They also have a resort shop where guests can pick up handicrafts, jewelry, local dresses and assorted bric-a-brac. Many of the screw pine, coir and coconut-based products made by the local village women are also on display.
While here, you cannot miss the Sacred Groves, which is an old Kerala tradition involving a form of nature worship, where part of the natural habitat is left untouched and allowed to thrive on its own through the course of time. The beauty of this space is that while you can't enter it, you can immerse yourself in its peace and serenity even from a distance.
Upon arrival, we decided to unwind by their lovely pool that overlooked the lake. We were lucky enough to catch the sunset and couldn't have asked for a better setting.
The next day began with a luxurious drive in the B-Class along the backwaters of Alleppey. A houseboat cruise in these backwaters is a delightful experience and a must-do when you visit. Alleppey is also the access point for the annual popular snake boat races in India.
As we drove past some houses, the aroma of traditional Kerala fish curry being cooked drifted towards us and made our stomachs crave some local food. So we made our way back to the hotel and indulged in a Kerala fish thali. The traditionally prepared rice plate consists of tandoor baked scampi, meen moolie â€" a traditional fish dish, local veggies cooked the customary way, and the very famous rice papadum. I can safely say that this was one of the best meals I've ever had anywhere in the world.
Energised by the hearty meal, the next order of business was canoeing through the canals spread across the hotel. For someone who has always wanted to try this, I couldn't have picked a more apt location â€" amidst the lush greenery and calm environment of The Coconut Lagoon. After an enjoyable yet tiring experience, we decided to get some much need R&R with a conventional Kerala Ayurvedic massage. The specially chosen herbal oils and experienced hands soon managed to breath life back into our tired, stressed bodies.
As the trip came to an end, we found ourselves wanting to stay a little longer, soaking in the calmness and serenity and we left looking forward to our next tryst with God's own country.
Trip to Kochi image gallery
