Marari Beach, Alleppey

Mararikulam is a sleepy fishing village located between Cochin and Alleppey. There are 48 Garden Villas constructed with a strong ethnic flavour and 3 Pool villas with private swimming pools. There is a large swimming pool as well. There lifeguards at the beach and free yoga classes every day.

Everyone loves endless golden beaches. But the allure of a beach is not just in the sand and the sea. It's in the living environment that surrounds it. In the trees and plants, the birds and fishes that call it home. And most of all, in the culture, life and colour of the people who belong there. Because it is only this that makes it special, different from other interchangeably pretty stretches of sand around the world. A beach is just a beach, until you find its living heart. For us, the search ended in the little village of Mararikulam.
 
A typical cottage at Marari looks almost identical to a local fisherman's hut. There is the same palm thatch, swooping low over a raised verandah, complete with a little tap by the steps to wash your feet with. But appearances are deceptive, as you'll discover when you enter.

Air conditioning is made possible by a roof invisible from the outside. Simplicity and harmony mark the interiors, which nevertheless contain all the comforts of a modern resort. There are modern twin - or - double beds, elegant, locally-inspired furniture and even a tea and coffee making facility, for all those odd times.

The bathrooms are open-roofed courtyards, similar to those in the homes of old Kerala. There's ultra - modern plumbing of course, and hot-and-cold running water too.

For the true sybarite, our spacious Pool Villas are a good option to the cottages. These feature cozy living rooms and -luxury itself- your own private pool.

The Marari Breach, let us be clear, is not the place for a raucous beach holiday. There are no rave parties here, no noisy water scooters, no sellers of trinkets. But for those seeking to undo the stresses of city life and experience a completely new pace, it is the perfect spot.

You could spend an entire morning lolling by the poolside with a book from the library. Or take a dip in the sea, the beach usually being nearly empty, except for a few other guests and the odd local fisherman. Or explore the area and its fishing villages on a bicycle.

The trick at Marari is to open up, relax and rejuvenate. To while away the hours watching the fascinating play of light on open water, to feed a wandering guinea fowl, to stretch a lazy hand out to your cocktail glass and wait for one of our sumptuous lunches to be served.

Mealtimes at Marari are unhurried affairs, with a firm eye on enjoying every subtlety that the waves have to offer. Both at the buffet and at our speciality sea food restaurant, Fort Cochin, the fresh catch of the day forms the centrepiece. You can choose from a variety of prawns, lobsters, crayfish and the famous 'karimeen', grilled on the spot or prepared to your tastes. Complementing it all is an array of Kerala specialties. Aromatic vegetable stews, spicy chicken gravies, tangy tamarind and kokam chutneys and always, rice and the popular idiappams- string hoppers that accompany most Kerala meals.

Chef Narayankutty can be fanatical about freshness. But he gets it easily. Our bread is always baked daily on the premises and the vegetables too, come fresh-plucked from our organic farm. For light snacks, the beach-shack bar and buffet is the place. Sip a post-swim cooler, munch on some fried prawns and listen to the distant roar of surf.

Ayurveda: A popular feature of the Marari experience is the Ayurveda centre. While it is fully equipped for complete treatments of illnesses, you may need little more than a relaxing oil or herbal massage, perfect for draining away the last residues of urban stress.

Our open-air yoga classes will have the same effect. These are held at sunrise and sunset, with a qualified master in attendance.

Like the fisherfolk who inspired it all, the Marari Beach is a caring part of its environment. Just across the road from the resort is our own waste water recycling plant. No effluents are released into the sea, and the manure created goes into our organic farm, right next door. The farm ensures that the vegetables and fruits we serve are the freshest you can get. Special mention must be made of our cleaning staff, who do so much to maintain the beauty that is around them.

As a guest at Marari, you can be sure of an experience that respects the ecology.

We invite you to be part of this process. It will enrich your enjoyment all the more.