Marari Beach - CGH Earth

One could say that there are two kinds of beach resorts in the world. Most common, of course, are those raucous, neon-lit places of water sports, midnight raves and trinket stores. Then there's the other kind, of the 'endless-golden-sands-where-you-won't -see-a-soul' variety, usually touted for their peace and quiet. Marari Beach is neither. It is an experience born of a question.. 'Can a strip of sand have a soul?' 

And since it must, the strip of sand was sought out and found, on the village of Maraikulam. Maraikulam lies on a forgotten shore, midway up the Malabar coast, where the Indian Ocean finally decides that it has now become the Arabian Sea. It is here that all answers are found.

A beach is a beach is a beach. Until you can seek out its living heart, the culture that calls it home. And therefore, Marari Beach Resort is a celebration of Kerala's coastal fishing villages. Inspired by this ancient way of life, its essence and a new experience has been captured in a sensitive travel for the modern-day visitor.

Marari Beach sprawls across 55 acres of lawns, far-flung lotus ponds and whispering coconut groves, all threaded through with stone-flagged pathways. A windbreak of palms runs the length of the property and forms a protective cover that reduces even the gustiest sea winds to mere caresses. And beyond is a milk-and-azure ocean, fringed by a beach more ochre than yellow, a sand-meets-sea combination you're not likely to find anywhere else.

Modeled on the fishermens' dwellings of Mararikulam, your accommodations are a fine balance between traditional form and modern function. The roof is a palm thatch, but addition of a concrete base keeps the air-conditioning in and the odd insect out. Bathrooms too combine modern fixtures with the traditional Kerala open-roofed style. And the little taps outside each cottage are another local touch. The fisher folk use them to clean the sand off their feet, and you can do likewise. Barefoot is a great way to be at Marari Beach, even indoors!

Cottages like the one just described form the standard accommodation, but if you favour more private luxuries, maybe you'd like to pick one of the pool villa cottages, which are suite-style and have a secluded walled courtyard with a private pool.

Garden Villa
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

Garden Pool Villa & Deluxe Pool Villa
The pool villas are a private world, with secluded courtyards, spacious suite-style accommodations and of course, your own private plunge pool.

Outdoor: Cycling tour of the village, tennis & badminton, beach volleyball, indoor games and 'Learn to cook with spices'

Library: You could spend an entire morning lolling by the poolside with a book from the library.

Marari Beach: You can take a dip in the sea, the beach usually being nearly empty, except for a few other guests and the odd local fisherman. You can explore the area and its fishing villages on a bicycle. The trick at Marari is to open up, relax and rejuvenate.

You can choose to while away the hours watching the fascinating play of light on open water or to feed a wandering guinea fowl or to stretch a lazy hand out to your cocktail glass and wait for one of the sumptuous lunches to be served.

The secret of the tangy fish curries of this part of the world lies - literally - in the soil. For it is the earthenware pots, placed on a slow wood fire and simmered, that give the food its unique texture and succulence.

At Marari Beach, you can enjoy the simple traditional dishes of the fisherfolk (along with, of course , a variety of international cuisine favourites) at the verandah- style restaurant. Dinners are candlelit, often with live music (the traditional kerala trio comprises a harmonium, flute and tablas) . And the beachside features an evening grill serving up some select seafood, always fresh, always seasonal.

The bar at Marari is in a beautiful 200-year old building, deep in a thicket of trees and lotus ponds. Enjoy a 'Panchamrutam' (a heady local concoction) in the midst of colonial-style spaces and serenity. If you can't tear yourself away from the beach, you can get a tall cold one down there too, at the Beach Shack.

Marari Beach has a fully equipped ayurvedic centre, so you can get all the benefits of this ancient system of medicine. Put yourself in the hands of the expert masseuses and you'll feel reborn.

There are also regular yoga classes on the beach, in the thick of a cool coconut grove. The locale, we're told, does wonders for your inner serenity.

A popular feature of the Marari experience is the Ayurveda center. While it is fully equipped for complete treatments of illnesses (these take a week, at the very least), you may need little more than a relaxing oil or herbal massage, perfect for draining away the last residues of urban stress. The 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 the resort's own waste water recycling plant. No effluents are released into the sea, and the manure created goes into their organic farm, right next door. The farm ensures that the vegetables and fruits they serve are the freshest you can get.