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Pick Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere For A Secluded Vacay In Kerala

Discover intriguing tales and folklores that define this hidden gem in ‘God’s Own Country’ during a relaxing stay at Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere in Vayalar.

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By: Priyanka Chakrabarti Published: Aug 28, 2019 08:30 AM IST

Pick Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere For A Secluded Vacay In Kerala
Picture Credit: Shutterstock

The languid landscape of Vayalar is the new darling of Kerala’s backwater tourism. Discover intriguing tales and folklores that define this hidden gem in ‘God’s Own Country’ during a relaxing stay at Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere in Vayalar. By Shikha Pushpan

Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere
Picture Credit: Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere

Evocative murals, tall lamp stands, glittering elephant caparisons, and striking replicas of Theyyam folk artists recreate the euphoric ambience of Kerala’s temple festivals as one walks through the airy reception area of Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere, Vayalar—my base for two days.

Set against the backwaters of Lake Vembanad in Alappuzha, the resort captures the village’s easy, laid-back vibe through its fuss-free spaces and old fashioned hospitality. I check into my lake-facing suite and spend 48 hours waking up to birdsong, admiring the quietude of village life, and going into a sensory overdrive, thanks to the abundance of greenery around.

Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere
Picture Credit: Hemis/Alamy

Not far from its more popular cousin, Kumarakom, Vayalar is relatively new on the block and an emerging destination cashing in on the state’s backwater tourism with its virgin landscapes and wellness-centric approach to leisure travel. As I would later discover, Vayalar is also home to numerous unsung heroes of India’s multi-layered history. The unassuming surrounds of the local attraction Raktha Sakshi Mandapam sends chills down my spine when I learn about the gory execution of hundreds of peasants and coir workers by the then Britishbacked state of Travancore in 1946.

Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere
Picture Credit: Shutterstock

The place has now been converted into a memorial and is open to public for visits. A little further away is Mulachhipuram, or ‘the land of the woman with breasts’, where Nangeli, a lower-caste woman is believed to have lived. Quite ironic to Kerala’s stature as the most literate state in the country, I learn about the audacious caste system and some of the worst taxes imposed in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. Interestingly, besides the tax on land and crops, people of the lower castes were required to pay taxes for the right to wear jewellery, the right to grow a moustache, and even the right for women to cover their breasts. Local legend has it that Nangeli chopped off her breasts when a tax-collector visited her house in Cherthala to collect breast tax. While Nangeli bled to death at her doorstep, her husband is believed to have jumped into the pyre to end his life—this is among the first accounts of a man committing sati. Two hundred years on, while Nangeli’s sacrifice is a fading memory, Vayalar is once again getting the attention it deserves—for the right reasons this time.

Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere
Picture Credit: Shutterstock

Back at the resort, my evening is spent soaking in the sunset from the Jacuzzi on the resort’s private houseboat as we traverse unnamed islands on Lake Vembanad and sail past local toddy shops and giant fishing nets on the backwaters. From the deck, I reach out to pluck a fruit from one of the dangling branches of what looked like a mango tree. But I’m cautioned against it. This, I am told, is the ‘suicide tree’ or cerbera odollam, which releases a toxin that blocks the calcium ion channels in the heart muscles, causing cardiac arrest, and often leading to death! Visibly shaken by my gaffe, I settle down to savour the traditional feast or sadhya served on a large banana leaf. While the time-honoured preparations ellisheri, pulissery, and olan remind me of the grand feast prepared during the harvest festival of Onam, karimeen fry is easily my biggest takeaway from the experience.

Vayalar is a place to visit with zero #travelgoals and return home with an overjoyed sense of a holiday done just right.

Getting There
Vayalar is located in Alappuzha district of Kerala. It is situated 60 km from Cochin International Airport. Ask the hotel concierge to arrange a pickup from the airport or book a prepaid taxi.

Where
Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere, VP II/123F, Vayalar, Chertala, Alappuzha, Kerala.

Tariff
Starts from INR 7,000

When
Between June and August.

Ideal For
Multi-generational families and couples.

Must-See
St. Andrew’s Basilica Arthunkal is the world’s largest shrine of St Sebastian and a fine example of Gothic architecture. For those who like to stay indoors, consult the resort’s Ayurvedic doctor to choose a suitable therapy for your body type—vata, pitta, and kapha. Navarakizhi and Abhyangam therapies come recommended for leisure travellers.

Related: Vayalar In Kerala: Here’s Why You Should Explore This Unconventional Destination!

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