Coconut Lagoon

Set among peaceful rice paddies and coconut groves on Vembanad Lake near Kumarakom, Coconut Lagoon is a wonderfully relaxing waterfront retreat that makes a great start or finish to your holiday in Kerala. Arriving by a five-minute boat jouyrney, you’ll instantly feel any stresses melt away and, gently encouraged by the caring staff, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the slow rhythms of rural South India.

Built in the traditional kuttanad style and restored by local master craftsmen, the accommodation at Coconut Lagoon consists of fifty individual heritage cottages set out amongst spacious lakefront lawns criss-crossed by a network of canals. Each contains handcrafted furniture, and many come with stunning open-air bathrooms and a view of the canals. A quiet separate lakefront section features a number of private pool villas that offer even further peace and privacy, along with a hammock on which to while away the afternoon.

With its atmosphere of utter serenity, Coconut Lagoon also makes an idyllic place to slow down and do nothing for a few days. Enjoy contemplative moments in a sacred grove within the grounds, relax by the large outdoor swimming pool, surrender to an Ayurvedic treatment in the spa pavilion or while away a couple of hours playing board games or reading up about the local wildlife and history in the library. Excellent dining at one of Coconut Lagoon’s two restaurants will allow you to enjoy authentic Malabari dishes cooked and served in the traditional way, with a special focus on fresh fish caught from the lake and the sea.

Exploring the Kerala backwaters either by canoe or on Coconut Lagoon’s solar-powered launch is probably the best way to experience the peace of the local villages and waterways, but there is also a fabulous array of immersive cultural experiences on offer at Coconut Lagoon ranging from learning how to make saris, play the tabla or husk coconuts to classic kathakali performances and displays of kalari, the traditional martial art form of Kerala. There is even a butterfly garden on the grounds, a great draw for young children, where you can watch over 50 species of butterfly, dragonfly and damselfly flit from flower to flower.