With the launch of the Vivanta by Taj,
Bekal, the state’s unexplored north coast is thankfully opening up to visitors.
“Holidays can either be active or lazy; a
vacation here invariably falls into the latter category,” says Samir Khanna,
general manager of Vivanta by Taj, Baklal, as we drive around the resort in a
golf cart. The property boasts 71 palm-fringed villas and rooms sprawled across
26 acres of tropical countryside, through which the Kappil River flows on its
way to meet the Lakshdweep Sea. Back in the 18th century, Bekal was
an important maritime port; now it’s an agrarian hub. And while the hotel’s
concierge has come up with numerous imaginative ways for visitors to explore
this uncharted beach destination – from kayaking and lunch with a local family
to trips to Bekal Fort – I, like most guests here, preferred staying in.
Vivanta
by Taj
The property’s pic turesque location and
laid – back charm could well have been responsible. Strong emphasis has been
placed on incorporating natural themes in to Vivanta’s design; tranquil water
gardens and fragrant frangipani trees are scattered across the grounds.
Everywhere you look, the resort affords
views of emerald water, interrupted only by the peacocks that routinely descend
on its lawns.
Everywhere
you look, the resort affords views of emerald water
Architecturally, the guest rooms draw
inspiration from the kettuvallam houseboats unique to Kerala’s backwaters, and
have high – vaulted bamboo ceilings and decorative stone columns. I checked
into a Premium Indulgence room, one of the better lodgings on offer. Designed
as a private sanctuary, it comes with its own plunge pool, sundeck and daybed.
There’s also an outdoor soak tub that’s connected to bathroom. The interiors
are styled with custom-made brass chandeliers, copper and gold murals.
Designed
as a private sanctuary, it comes with its own plunge pool, sundeck and daybed.
The resort has several secluded nooks and
corners along the water’s edge that take private dining to an entirely new
level. On the Sunday evening I visited, many couples were out enjoying the
intimacy this setting allows, including table maestro Zakir Hussain. Guests can
even experience dining on pontoon out on the river.
Wherever you eat, the food is exceptional;
chef Valentine Athida is an expert in the region’s distinctive Malayali Muslim
cuisine. “With lesser emphasis on coconut and more on spices, food here is
prepared differently from that of southern Kerala,” he explained as he offered
me steamed seer fish marinated in tamarind sauce, wrapped in a banana leaf.
Guests
can even experience dining on pontoon out on the river.
‘The resort affords views of emerald water,
interrupted only by the peacocks descending on its lawns’
Though still in its soft launch phase when
I visited, the resort was already playing host to a pleasing mix of people:
local couples, families looking for a quick getaway from nearby Mangalore and
Calicut, as well as international visitors keen to discover a new side of
Kerala. With the launch of the Java Grande Spa – the Taj group’s largest spa at
1.65 lakh sq ft, with eight treatment rooms, a yoga pavilion and a wellness
cuisine restaurant – the hotel is well on its way to becoming a destination in
itself.
