Lap Of Luxury

Taj Malabar is an experience which grows on you, says Vyas Sivanand

Taj Malabar is nestled quaintly abutting the Vembanad Lake, located at the tip of the man-made Willingdon Island connected to Kerala's commercial capital Ernakulam by the Venduruthy bridge. From the hotel, the view is awe-inspiring. The lake, the sea far away, canoes, steamers, cruise liners passing by, the rustic Fort Cochin, the bustling Ernakulam city, the Vypeen island, the Bolgatty island - all are visible from here.

The interiors are as enticing. The hotel has two wings - Heritage, which has 33 rooms and Tower, which has seven floors with 63 rooms. The Heritage wing used to be a sailors' hostel constructed in 1935. It was later renamed Malabar Hotel until the Taj group took over. The Victorian interior has been redone to bring in a touch of opulence. There is a stark distinction between the two wings, right from room keys, beds, flooring, size of rooms, luggage racks and bathrooms. But the Keralean character prevails throughout.

Food options are galore with Pepper - the all day diner; Dolphin's Point, which is an open-air seasonal eatery serving barbecued delicacies; Rice Boat, a unique restaurant set in a rice boat serving ethnic Kerala seafood; Thai Pavilion, a first in Kerala serving authentic Thai cuisine and the Pool-side Bar, which overlooks the unique and most-photographed infinity pool.Banqueting facilities can easily accommodate 70 to 300 people at Raja Varma, Bristow or the Willingdon halls. The lawns are also often converted into banqueting areas or used for theme evenings.

One of the main attractions of the hotel is Tamara Spa. After proper consultation an ayurvedic treatment is suggested. A diet chart is given and the doctor is very particular about the procedural aspects of the treatment. For example, a 'dhara' (herbal oils poured on the forehead) treatment requires a minimum of seven days and no amount of coaxing will make the doctor give you one for a shorter time period. The yoga room, a well-equipped gym and a saloon are other facilities for the health-conscious.

One of the main attractions of the property is its concept of experiential holidays. Sadya, the traditional lunch of Kerala, the tour of a spice plantation and an authentic Syrian Christian lunch at the plantation owner's house, a one-hour evening backwater sunset cruise by the Kochi fishing nets, Fort Cochin, a visit to the Jewish Synagogue - all this goes into the Taj Malabar experience.