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COVER
STORY: KERALA
HOT
SPOTS
Most
hotels in Kerala are small, with the bigger ones topping out at 50-odd
rooms. Only ITDC's Kovalam hotel, the Taj in Ernakulam and Muthoot Plaza
in Thiruvananthapuram are bigger. For Taj properties, expect to pay more
than Rs 4,000 a night; for Casino's hotels, the range goes to Rs 12,000
and boutique hotels like Surya Samudra top out at Rs 15,000. Houseboats
charge between Rs 3,500 and Rs 5,500 per room a night with meals. The
better mid-range hotels are in the Rs 1,200-Rs 2,500 range. Anything below
Rs 600 is backpacker country.
 BEKAL:
The future. Big hotel chains, including the Taj and Oberoi, are building
properties along a beach-peppered coast that many claim is the best in
Kerala. Accessed from Mangalore and Kozhikode (Calicut).
KOZHIKODE:
Key entry point to unspoilt north Kerala, from backwater take-offs at
Kappad and Ezhimala further north to the beaches of Bekal. Jump station
of forest/hill marvels such as Vythiri.
KUMARAKOM:
Backwater jewel. Home to some of the best resorts. Cut off, peaceful.
Hotelwatch: Coconut Lagoon, Taj, Golden Tulip. The Oberoi Group is building
a resort at nearby Pathiramanal island.
KOCHI:
Old/new world mix. Take-off point to Munnar, Thekkady, and Vembanad backwaters.
Hotelwatch: Casino's Brunton Boatyard, Taj's Malabar and the Residency
in Ernakulam.
ALAPPUZHA:
Gateway to the southern parts of Vembanad lake and resorts in the Kumarakom
area. Houseboat gateway, like Kottayam. Gateway to Mararikulam.
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| HEALTH
CAPSULE: Ayurvedic message is a big draw for the tired, sick and stressed
out from the world over, with people paying up to Rs 75,000 for a
course. |
THENMALA:
Planned eco-tourism zone. Tourism Department is inaugurating a hub in
January.
KOLLAM:
Or Quilon, near the Ashtamudi lake, is coming up as a major houseboat
take-off point.
VARKALA:
Kovalam in the making but so far, so good. Great cliff-front seaface.
Hotelwatch: Taj
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
State capital. Crowded. Avoidable.Gateway to Kovalam and beaches to the
south, Varkala, Kollam, Thenmala. Hotelwatch: Muthoot Plaza, KTDC's Mascot.
CHOWARA:
Sprawling beaches, good ayurvedic spas. Hotelwatch: Surya Samudra, Somatheeram
and Manaltheeram.
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| Nature
offers a perfect cure |
KOVALAM:
Overcrowded, overdone, backpacker and charter beach. Hotelwatch: ktdc's
Samudra and itdc's Kovalam Ashok.
THEKKADY:
Jump off to Periyar wildlife sanctuary and sprawling spice country. Hotelwatch:
Spice Village, Taj Garden Retreat.
MUNNAR:
Superb tea country, good for hikes. Creaky Infrastructure but picking
up. Hotelwatch: ktdc's Tea County, Mahindra Resorts and if you can get
it, rooms at the High Range Club.
POOVAR:
White beach and backwater head. Sparse, quiet. Hotelwatch:Poovar
Island Resort.
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