15th March 2016
You are in love. And you have finally decided to tie the knot. Well done! The wedding and the ceremony were a success. Now what? The honeymoon, of course. You picture it unique. With sandy beaches, tropical climate, holding a coconut in your hands in a luxurious resort. There is certainly a wide variety of choices. Bahamas, Mauritius, Bali. But you want something different. You want to spend your honeymoon somewhere special and unusual, a place that only few, lucky people have visited and which is off the beaten track. On the one hand you want all modern facilities but on the other you also want it to be affordable.Lovebirds, the place you are looking for really exists. It is no other than romantic Kerala in India.
An introduction to Kerala, India
If you belong to the majority of people who picture poverty and decline whenever they hear the word “India”, I have to inform you that you are totally wrong. Even though this time I am going to focus only on Kerala, which has nothing to do with the rest of India, I thought shedding some light on this matter would be the right thing to do. This is one of the most beautiful countries in the word, and it is the dream of every traveler to visit it. Believe me, the magic of this place will take you aback.
And now back to Kerala! It is situated in South East India, on the Malabar Coast. It is one of the most beautiful states of the country, with white and peaceful beaches, lush hills with tea plantations and exotic cuisine. There is nothing you can’t do in Kerala. If you enjoy camping and hiking through tropical forests and lakes, then here you will find your heaven on Earth. If, on the other hand, you prefer lying down and relax then get ready to fall in love with the exotic beaches in Marari. Here you can find something to accommodate all tastes. But what makes this state truly unique is what we would call its “authenticity”.
The “authentic” Kerala
sunset in Kochi
The Country of God, as Kerala is known, is yet another hidden treasure that is waiting for you to unearth it. Here, you will not see thousands of tourists wandering around the streets holding maps and cameras. The land itself is an unexplored place. Everything is at its original form, and it is this “authenticity” that most travelers are looking for.
You will feel like home! And I have to admit that this is mostly due to the people.I swear, you have never seen people like that before. They will make you feel welcome, they will open their house and you will be moved by their kindness. I was lucky enough to get very close to this warmth. I found myself without a place to stay, and the locals opened their houses for me, they provided me with a bed to sleep on, they shared their food and they made me feel safe. Even when I got sick they did everything in their power to help me recover.
Romantic and lovable
swing baby swing in Xandari Pearl
The best word to describe Kerala! The locals are sometimes unaware of the fact that they live in one of the most romantic places in the world.
But what makes Kerala romantic?
The sunsets
Oh yes, the sunsets. I have already said it a million times but I will say it once again. You can’t get enough of the sunsets here in Kerala. We watched, almost daily, the sun go down from different parts of the state and every time it was even more beautiful. Of course, if you and your better half are early birds, you may as well wake up at six and enjoy the sunrise. I also have a tip for the romantics. There is a mobile application (Magic Hour for iPhone) which lets you know when the sunset starts or where you can look for the sunrise in the city, when it is at its peak and when it ends.
The resorts
I cannot recall how many times I said “wow” during my stay here. I was incredibly lucky, as during my trip I had the chance to stay in the best resorts of Kerala. So, I canspeak from experience. Most hotels scream “honeymoon destination” even when you see them from a distance. They offer special packages for newlyweds or people who want to renew their vows or for those interested in spending a romantic weekend. Almost all hotels have spas, infinity pools, romantic cruises with live relaxing music at the backwaters and suites with Jacuzzi and a private swimming pool with rose petals. Take a look at some examples.
Valentines day buffet in Leela Hotel Kovalam
sunset in front of the infinity pool of the hotel. model : Patricia Schussel Gomes
The honeymoon suite at Vythiri Resort, Wayanad with a glass floor and a private pool
The sunset from the beach in front of the Xandari Pearl Hotel
The relaxed pace of life and the tropical climate
Relaxing walks along the Marari beach, a cruise in the calm canals of backwatersat Alleppey, gazing at the greenest landscape the human eye can take and lying on the hammocks that are literally everywhere, under thousands of coconut palms that one can find all through the state. Do I really need to say more? Sometimes you get the feeling that you are on a tropical island. The only thing you feel like doing is hold a coconut in one hand and your beloved one in the other and stroll along the beaches having the most spectacular sunset in the world as a background. Honestly, it’s like a movie!
Oh, and if you don’t already know it, let me inform you that Maldives are very close to here and they share the same sea. But here life and hotels are definitely more affordable. So, relax with your chosen one and forget about stress and work.
Its diverse activities
hiking Western Ghats
And then there is you who cannot stay put even in your honeymoon. Kerala has a lot to offer for those of you who are more adventurous. You can head north, to Munnar and spend some days camping and hiking in Western Ghats, the mountain range that runs parallel to the west coast. You can also head to Wayanad and spend the night at a tree house in the Vythiri Resort, which is situated in the jungle, full of little monkeys and birds. Spend a night at one of the spectacular traditional houseboats in Aleppey or Kumarakom or go to one of the dozen festivals that are held almost every week in temples, to watch the procession with the elaborately adorned elephants, the drums and the colorful clothes. If you find yourself here at spring, don’t miss the Holi festival, a celebration full of colors and people who share their love with their fellowmen. There is always something new, something that is going to thrill you so as to never get bored.
Temple festival in Kumarakom, Kerala
Kerala has a lot of love to give. If you choose it as your honeymoon destination, one thing is for sure. You will go back feeling refreshed, well rested, having lived moments and events that only very few couples will have the chance to experience. Sweet honeymoonthen!
