The Natural Choice for Wildlife Holidays, Safaris and Natural History Cruises Wildlife Travel, Safari Holidays & Expedition Cruises Specialist

mainimage

Keralan Backwaters - Coconut Lagoon Hotel

The Coconut Lagoon Hotel is a wonderful heritage hotel in the heart of the Keralan Backwaters. An ancient timber and tiled mansion with intricate carved beams sits on the eastern shores of Lake Vembanadu in the midst of a coconut plantation. Located in the grounds are 50 rooms which offer three different kinds of accommodation either on the lake shore or the canals that run through the property. Choose from individual and compact Heritage Bungalows, Heritage Mansions with an upper story and lake views or Pool Villas with their own private pools and hammocks in a secluded lake-side location. The hotel comprises actual traditional buildings relocated from various parts of Kerala, and therefore all are unique, with antique features dating back hundreds of years. For today's guests they have all been refitted and modernised to provide the comforts of air-conditioning, running water and telephone points. The open-roofed bathrooms have modern conveniences, and offer the unique luxury of bathing under a starlit sky. The hotel facilities include a multi-cuisine restaurant, bar, large pool and Ayurvedic massage and health centre. Activities on offer include sunset cruises, backwater cruises, visits to a bird sanctuary, and 'learn to cook with spices' lessons. The Hotel is not accessible by road and is 45 minutes drive from Cochin, plus a 45 minute boat ride, or a 10 minute boat ride from Kottayam.

Keralan Backwaters - Coconut Lagoon Hotel_COCONUTLAGOON001Travel_Inn.jpg Keralan Backwaters - Coconut Lagoon Hotel

Click here for all India Itineraries

  • Location:

    The Kerala Backwaters are a vast network of lakes, canals, estuaries and deltas of 44 rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The backwaters are a self-supporting eco-system teeming with aquatic life, and the canals are still the main highways for the villages in the area with over 900 kilometres navigable. One of the highlights of a trip to southern India is a Keralan Backwater cruise which can last for just one or two nights, or more for the adventurous. A typical cruise will pass through Keralan villages, surrounded by lush bright green paddy fields and soaring coconut trees. One of its charms is the possibility of observing rural life and customs without feeling intrusive. You can see village girls - mussel picking and villager's toddy tapping, fishing or making coir products form coconut husks. The bird life is amazing with a huge variety of species including kingfishers, crow pheasants, cormorants, drogues, woodpeckers, ducks, bee-eaters, kites etc. What better way to end a hectic Indian trip than gliding through tranquil green waters, surrounded by bright green tropical landscapes and shimmering blue skies? Backwater cruises operate year round although the best time is generally the dry winter season from October to March.