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The charm of Kadavu Resort is in its beautiful setting and architecture. As you drive up the... ..
The charm of Kadavu Resort is in its beautiful setting and architecture. As you drive up the steep road towards the reception, it gives the impression of an old Kerala palace – large, white walls, sloping tiled roofs, and wooden pillars and rafters. From the entrance lobby, the architecture of the inner courtyard along which the rooms are located is even more charming, with a large water feature reminiscent of an old temple pond, standing centre stage. The soothing sound of the fountains in the pond, the tropical greenery washed a brighter shade of green by the monsoon, the glimpses of the river through the coconut palms and the cool blue water in the clover shaped swimming pool, all add to the relaxing ambience.
The rooms are pleasantly modern, with standard luxuries like cable TV, mini bar, shower cubicle, and hair dryer. There is also a touch of local Malabar crafts in the wooden furniture. Most rooms have a large terrace leading off it that overlooks the Chaliyar River. There are also cottages, which are situated closer to the river, but further away from the lobby and restaurants.
There are three restaurants in the resort, besides the 24-hour room service. However, since it was off-season, only one was operational – Ottupura the multi cuisine restaurant. Adjoining it is a cocktail lounge overlooking the river. The food, overall, although not exceptional is good and you cannot go wrong if you order the local Malabar delicacies.
In terms of recreation, there is an ayurvedic centre, swimming and indoor games like carom and table tennis, a gym, a children’s play area and on some evenings, cultural shows are held in the open-air amphitheatre set in the centre of the resort. We were lucky to see a kalaripayatu performance one evening, performed by a local troupe.
Boating, fishing and sightseeing trips can be arranged to nearby tourist attractions. The highlight of our trip was a boat cruise with lunch on the Chaliyar River in a two-bedroom kettuvallam or houseboat. Travelling on a houseboat in Kerala is overdone, but the experience at Kadavu is to be cherished. This is because unlike other parts of Kerala where the backwaters are overcrowded with houseboats, in these parts, the resort has the only houseboat, which means that you have the entire river to yourself. The scenery is also much greener as the banks of the river are largely free from construction.
Go to Kadavu for a taste of the relatively unspoilt North Kerala or just a relaxing weekend away from the city.
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