Recreational Activities

The Liquid Highway
"The journey is the reward', goes the old chinese saying. And coming to Coconut Lagoon is an experience far removed from the airport coach transfer. The resort is reachable only over the water. It nestles along one shore of the Vembanad lake, a 175 square km. expanse stretching between the backwaters of Kerala and the sea. Perhaps, if you are lucky, you'll arrive at dusk. When reds and golds and purples colour the sleepy waters and the only sounds are of gently lapping waves, mingled with your own rising breath.

Lazily, the red roofs of Coconut Lagoon emerge from the palm shadows and, going a little way up a river mouth, you make a sharp turn that brings you right into our reception.

The Ever Expanding Moment
A true experience is something that must include the body, the mind and the spirit. At Coconut Lagoon, leisure involves all three. If you're the active type, you can take a canoe out into the backwaters and explore this fascinating world just like the locals do. Or go fishing with one of the simple bamboo poles the staff usually have. You can even take a crack at water skiing. Of course, its nice to know that expert ayurvedic masseurs on hand to bring all aching muscles back into shape!

But perhaps you'd just like to slow your mental clock down a bit. May we suggest the free form pool? For all its size, it wasn't created for potential Olympians! Rather, a relaxed game with a beachball, followed by a leisurely backstroke, as you listen to the music wafting in from the classical concert on the lawns. Else, you could get a book from the library, only to let it slip from your hands as the languid afternoon settles on your eyelids.

Later in the day, don't miss the sunset cruise, in our own restored 'kettuvallom'. These traditional bargeboats of the backwaters have now been given a new life and luxury. So, adrift to the accompaniment of a flute, you can watch the sun descend into the shadows of the great Vembanad.

Ayurveda: Wellness Within and Without.
Coconut Lagoon includes a holiday for the inner you. Ayurveda , the ancient Indian science of health and longevity, deals with the well-being of the spirit, as well as the body and mind.

Brought a niggling ailment along on vacation? A headache or a chronic problem? A little residual stress? Give ayurveda a chance. The medicines used are completely natural, completely safe, and there are no side effects at all. Our expert Vaidyars, trained in traditional medicine, will prescribe for you. Who knows, you may return, like so many thousands of people, a convert to this ancient system.

And even if you're in the pink of health, there's no reason why you shouldn't get some traditional massages, just for the tremendous feelings of relaxation and joy they bring. Of course, regular doctors too are on call from the nearby town, should you feel the need.

Nature
To be in the midst of nature at Coconut Lagoon, you have to do nothing more than leave your room. Yet, for the more environmentally inclined, there are some fascinating distractions. The Kumarakom Sanctuary is a bird-call away, across the Kavanar river. Numerous species include bitterns, brahminy kites, marsh harriers, several varieties of lake herons and of course, the darter, which seems to be everywhere at once.

The resort grounds are home to a profusion of tree species, including many ayurvedic and medicinal plants. Most of these are labelled, and taking children along for a walk on the grounds is a fine way to introduce them to the bounties of nature. Set back between the ayurveda centre and the paddy fields beyond is a little experiment of ours. A butterfly garden that on a sunny morning, becomes a tableau of flitting, floating, dancing colours.

Nurture
The world of Coconut Lagoon is beautiful, yet fragile. Everywhere, you'll see efforts at composting, recycling and waste management. The water treatment plant at the resort may not be as pretty as the tharavad bungalows, but it emerges from the same philosophy. Respect for the environment as well as the society and culture it has given birth to. Join us in a more sensitive approach to tourism, and see for yourself how your experiences are immeasurably enriched.