Hello Friends,
Have you been on a summer vacation to your favourite aunt’s house in a different city? And when it was time to bid adieu, you left with a lump in your throat and tears prickling at your eye lids? Scene is familiar? This is exactly how we felt as we got into the taxi from Taj Vivanta, Kumarakom. Yes, I can hear you say, Well its just a hotel come on. Agree, but this was a truly a different and caring experience staying at the Taj Vivanta at Kumarakom.
This palatial, five star property lies near Kottayam in the sleepy and tiny village of Kumarakom. It is a massive 15 acre property with one end starting at the village main road and the other end smoothly ending at the Vembanad lake.
It is a colonial era bungalow on Kumarakom lake with villas dotting the central lagoon, with private balconies, plunge pools and luxurious bathrooms and open to sky shower.
The hotel organizes a suite of activities so much so, that you really don’t feel like stepping out to explore the village. They have boating every evening for about an hour, cruising down the Vembanad lake followed by high tea. A delicious high tea offering vadais, samosas and bakodas, and you can much on this and sip your hot tea enjoying a magnificent view. In fact the Sun god plays hooky with you dancing on the water below and hiding behind the clouds every now and then. Watching the sunset with loved ones can be one of the most beautiful things that you can experience.
The evenings are spectacular, as the local women come to light the lamps all around the central lagoon. And in the this beautiful diya light there is Carnatic music and traditional dance performances.
And in the morning pottery making, clay modeling, cycling, swimming and long walks along the property can all be done after a buffet breakfast. A breakfast fit for the kings awaits you ranging from cornflakes, cereals, dry fruits, milkshakes, live dosa counter, parathas, puris, baturas, and with typical Kerala delicacies such as appams, idiappams and puttu. And you can wash your breakfast down with fresh juices, hot chocolate and tea/coffee. Do you need anything more? After this lavish spread the best thing you can do is loll around the property and swing to your hearts’ content and watch the world go by.
The property is spotlessly clean, rooms, rather the villas are squeaky clean with top notch housekeeping. Food is delicious and the produce from local markets and their in house organic farms. The staff is very courteous, friendly and truly caring. I have visited several five and four star properties across the country, but the Taj Vivanta, Kumarakom stays with me evergreen in my mind.
The view that greets you as soon as you drive in to the hotel
The warm and welcoming foyer as you wait for the bags to be offloaded
The central lagoon around which the property reisdes
The entrance to the villas
A swing placed strategically where you can swing and relax
A large, spacious swimming pool where you can swim undisturbed
Aura, the curio shop is charming and quaint
Swans for company as you bite into your toast at your breakfast table
Villa rooms are tastefully done with mirrors and lamps
Sitting room as part of the villas
A massive and extremely comfortable four poster
The far end of the property that opens out into the Vembanad lake
Useful Links
https://vivanta.tajhotels.com/en-in/kumarakom-kerala/
Cheers
Bhuvana Rajaram
