Fresh from spending a night in a fancy houseboat that cruised the famed backwaters of Kerala, our #KeralaBlogExpress2 crew headed to our next destination: the city of Kottayam. Set against the backdrop of Vembanad Lake—the largest lake in Kerala—the Western Ghats on the east, and the lush rice fields of Kuttanad on the west, Kumarakom is also where one can find the charming backwater village of Kumarakom.
Kumarakom Lake Resort: Charming Heritage Stay in Kerala
Our accommodation for the next couple of nights, the Kumarakom Lake Resort, is situated on an expansive lakeside property dotted with villas and suites modeled after the sixteenth-century traditional houses of Kerala. Many of the building materials used, such as pieces of wood, planks, and tiles, were transported directly from the original locations of heritage houses all over Kerala.
Heritage Villa
Each one of us was billeted to a Heritage Villa that comes with a private pool and a courtyard. Mine was absolutely fantastic, situated facing the direction of the picturesque Vembanad Lake.
The interiors are composed mostly of teak wood materials, antique furniture, brown-squared tiles, and a queen-sized bed featuring an artwork depicting Keralan folklore on its headboard.
A sliding door leads to the outdoor shower and private swimming pool, while a small porch on the front opens up to the resort’s spacious manicured lawn and garden. After putting my backpack inside the cabinet, I took advantage of our few hours of free time by immediately jumping into my villa’s swimming pool.
Ottamthullal Kerala Performance Art
During our first night, we were entertained with a live Ottamthullal cultural art performance at the resort’s main dining area. An eighteenth-century dance introduced by renowned Kerala poet Kunchan Nambiar, an Ottamthullal is a solo cultural performance by a dancer—also called the Ottamthullal—who normally wears green makeup alongside a colorful costume and ornaments.
They add a level of flair to their dance by displaying highly expressive facial expressions. Afterward, I was able to ask the performer for a selfie.
Food and Dining
Kumarakom Lake Resort’s main dining place is the Ettukettu, a multi-cuisine restaurant that can sit one hundred fifteen diners and is located in the middle of the resort’s lush garden, surrounded by two courtyards. Ettukettu was designed to evoke Kerala’s olden and regal architecture.
According to the history plaque at the restaurant, Ettukettu was “commissioned by King Marthanda Varma as a gift to his favored martial arts tutor, Edamana Kellamthat Gurukkal. The mansion was built with all the magnificence of the homes of the nobility of those days. The Ettukettu had been dismantled from its original location and relocated in all its glory at Kumarakom Lake Resort, and is today dedicated to the culinary arts as it once was to martial arts.” During our stay there, we enjoyed a full-board meal consisting of traditional Kerala culinary delicacies, as well as North Indian and Chinese cuisine.
Other Activities and Amenities
Other activities you can enjoy at Kumarakom Lake Resort include Backwater Cruises, Sunset Cruises, water sports, speedboat rides, and banana boat rides. Other facilities include a fitness gym, a conference hall, an infinity swimming pool, and a therapeutic Ayurveda Spa.
Book your stay at Kumarakom Lake Resort NOW
