Think: Peace, Escape, Views, Backwaters. Did Kerala come to your mind? Food that touches all your senses, a pleasant climate all year round, history all around and a few luxe hotels.
Whether its palm-fringed white-sand beaches or sprawling emerald plantations, Kerala is a delight for the eyes, a feast for your taste-buds, and a perfect escape from the city life we all struggle in. Listed as one of the Top 50 places to visit by none other than National Geographic, this state is a rainbow of experiences ranging from bustling towns, lose-yourself-in jungles, absolutely mesmerizing beaches and enchanting backwaters.
Nicknamed God’s Own Country by its very own locals, Kerala’s beauty has been the talk of travel circles for centuries all over the world. The tale goes like this: passing by sailors would be attracted to the sea-touch state because of the aroma of exotic spices all the time. Till today, Kerala offers some of the best scenic beauty, wildlife, marine excitement and a tantalizing variety of cuisines. The backwaters remain a crown prize of the country with activities galore for the gallivanting soul, and extreme luxury, pampering and peace for those on their soul-searching escapades. I fall in the second category, haha!
A network of interconnecting canals, riverways and lakes weave their way to make up the Kerala backwaters flanked by paddy fields and plantations that you can lose yourself in. All you need to do, is take a few boat rides and stay a little longer to take in this entire atmosphere – magical, unforgettable & refreshing, at best. While you do take in all that this country has to offer, make sure to tick off the Vismaya Lake Heritage from your bucket-list. A 400-year old property placed strategically on a peninsula, surrounded by three sides of the famed Vembanad Lake – oh, what a treat! The story of this property is eye-popping at the least. A couple stumbled upon a ruined old house abandoned in the corner of a jungle. At their own pace, they transported the home piece by piece to the lakeside, between tropical palms and exciting fruit groves. A couple of years’ efforts went into restoring it into the excellent structure it is today – not losing its charm, and standing in all of its architectural glory.
A slice of authentic Kerala architecture and excellent food, among other services to keep you pampering and rejuvenated, the hotel is a sanctuary of aesthetics accentuating the lake, the blue skies around and an architectural treat on its insides. Renowned for its exclusivity, a complete restoration by Karl Damschen of Swiss-German origin, and its deliciously mouth-watering seafood and vegetarian culinary delights, the Vismaya Lake Heritage is the perfect pad to take in breath-taking lake vistas, unlike your typical run-of-the-mill properties.
There’s not much to do now. Go to your computer, book a one-way ticket to this luxurious abode, because time waits for no one, and a getaway is something we all could do within today’s time!
Written By Mohit Gupta
Week 41, October ’20
