wonderful holidays india and arabia kerala : india

overview

Kerala has been voted one of National Geographic's ten "Paradise Found", and it's easy to see why. Its long shoreline has some of the subcontinent’s finest beaches; flowing rivers turn into glistening backwaters; mountains are covered with dense forests and wildlife, and mist-covered valleys are peppered with little stone cottages painted violet, pink and white. Beautiful rolling hills are blanketed with tea and cardamom plantations and in amongst the plantations and paddy fields, there are numerous historic and cultural monuments.

The Keralan people are among the most charming and independent in India, famed for their delicious (but hot!) fish curries. The state also boasts 100% literacy and was also the first place in the world to democratically elect a communist government.

Explore historic Cochin, stick to the lowlands, or head for the hills, passing through scenery dotted with churches and temples, tea, spice, coffee and rubber plantations, enjoying natural forests with wildlife reserves filled with elephants. Relax on unspoilt beaches and sample Ayurvedic treatments and yoga, or sail the backwater lagoons where the silence of the still waters is broken only by boats and canoes, seagulls and cranes.

Cochin has a trading history dating back to Roman times and as a result is an unlikely blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture. Brunton Boatyard hotel (historic former boatyard of Brunton & Sons), overlooking Cochin harbour is the perfect place from which to explore the city with its rich colonial past. Hop into an auto rickshaw and explore the old spice market at Matancherry, the antique shop on Jew's street, the Synagogue, the Dutch palace and of course, the famous Chinese fishing nets. The hotel has its own jetty from which boat tours of the harbour depart. In the evening, enjoy a sundowner in the hotel’s bar, and watch the huge ships sail by.

After the heat and humidity of the city, head for the low hills of the Southern Ghats and a stay at the Shalimar Spice Garden Resort surrounded by tropical jungle. At 800m above sea level, the climate up here is relatively cool and refreshing, and this rustic retreat is ideal spot for visiting nearby Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Set in 5 acres of gardens with a gentle mountain stream meandering through the property, the pace of life here is very serene.  Take a wander down to the local town of Kumily (5km) to browse for local crafts and get an auto rickshaw back up; visit a nearby tea or spice plantation; or take a day trip to the forests and waterfalls of the cardamom hills before making your way back down to the incredible peace of LakeVembanad.

Lying on the shores of LakeVembanad, Privacy is the ultimate 'backwater' retreat. This heavenly little place comprises 2 fully staffed cottages, each with long verandahs, a lush green garden and the ultimate in lake and sunset views, together with wonderful artefacts scattered all around the interiors. Privacy is the ideal place to get away from the masses and completely switch off for a few days.

Follow your stay at Privacy with a night on (a traditional rice barge) made from only natural and local materials with coir matted decks and canopies made of split bamboo and palm fronds, and glide silently through the backwaters of Kerala. F rom the air, the backwaters look like a web of tiny silver threads spinning across the patchwork quilt of the Kerala coast. Canals, sometimes as narrow as an arm-span, broaden out into vast, misty lakes; straight as an arrow, or curl gracefully through scented forests of coconut, pepper and cinnamon . On board you will be served simple local dishes which on a typical day would include the famed Karimeen and freshwater prawns. Drifting through the still backwaters reveals a Keralan lifestyle that is totally hidden from the road. Narrow tree covered canals open into dazzling vistas of paddy fields, and churches, mosques and temples can be glimpsed through the trees, and small farms and villages which remain almost untouched by the modern world. Kingfishers, cormorants and fish eagles compete with fisherman in rowing boats for the fish, buffalos are used for ploughing the fields, and women bathe and wash their clothes in the rivers. Watch the sky turn from velvety pink to black as the smell of incence grows heavy in the evening air, eat delicious local cuisine by candlelight and fall gently to sleep.

Finally, Kerala’s endless golden beaches make the ideal way to end a tour of the region. Everyone loves endless golden beaches. So much so, they've become something of a tourism cliche, often indistinguishable from one another. But the allure of a beach is not just in the sand and the sea, it's in the living environment that surrounds it. In the trees and plants, the birds and fishes that call it home. And most of all, in the culture, life and colour of the people who belong there; because it is this that makes it special.

The little village of Mararikulam is tucked away behind a line of dense palms and is made up of small fishing huts built of slapdash adobe, and thatched with palm and tied with coir, or coconut rope. Neat and scrupulously clean footpaths veer between the huts and everywhere, the pungent scent of coconut oil and spice. The people of the area have been fisherfolk for millennia and they've evolved a way of life that's as tranquil and colourful as their world. The Arabian Sea is an alluring azure blue colour here and has a translucent, pearl-like quality. The ochre sands that fringe this coastline are deep, rich and fine.

Stay at the Marari Beach Resort and indulge in Ayurvedic treatments, a herbal massage, yoga classes, or simply relax on the beach. The resort is the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern day life and is sprawled expansively across 25 acres of land behind a windbreak of stretching palms. Settle into the languid pace of life, relax by the pool or on the beach, eat delicious, freshly grilled seafood and explore the local area and its fishing villages by bicycle.

Please give Wonderful World a call on +44 (0)20 3178 4408 to discuss your plans to visit Kerala. We will be delighted to help you put together your perfect itinerary for a visit to this gloriously peaceful part of India.