We like to believe that this is the reason why Condé Nast Traveller rated Coconut Lagoon among the 25 best getaways in the world.

Do you have a moment? Then come with us. Lie in a hammock on this lakeshore, and allow your senses to possess you.

Before you is the great Vembanad lake, rippling under the vault of an impossibly large sky. Sunlight sparkles on her waters, tearing the reflection of a passing houseboat into crystal shards. Darter birds go about their fishy business. Your nostrils fill with scent- laden ozone.

Peace? Of course there is peace here, but not silence. Silence is not nature's way. And the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary next door is full of raucous neighbours.

You sway a little, and the image changes.

Some of its timbers are 200 years old. They were moved here piece by piece, a legacy of the Theravadas of old Kerala.

Notice the brass detail on the doors? The fretted woodwork on the verandah ceilings? This is the finesse of another age, brought back to life by the masters of a dying art. It shall be your home tonight.

The Liquid Highway
"The journey is the reward', goes the old Chinese saying. (Perhaps they picked it up from Kerala, in exchange for the famous fishing nets?). And coming to Coconut Lagoon is an experience far removed from the airport coach transfer.

The resort is reachable only over the water. It nestles along one shore of the Vembanad lake, a 175 square km. expanse stretching between the backwaters of Kerala and the sea. Perhaps, if you are lucky, you'll arrive at dusk. When reds and gold and purples colour the sleepy waters and the only sounds are of gently lapping waves, mingled with your own rising breath. Lazily, the red roofs of Coconut Lagoon emerge from the palm shadows and, going a little way up a river mouth, you make a sharp turn that brings you right into our reception.

Accommodations and Enchantments.

The reception area too, like the homes we mentioned earlier, is a living piece of Kerala history. It dates from 1860, the four-cornered open courtyard design an echo of times past. The entire mansion was painstakingly transplanted from the nearby village of Vaikom in 1993. Relax on the wooden swing before you check in, or wander about, sipping on a fresh coconut and soaking in the atmosphere.

You can choose from three kinds of accommodation at Coconut lagoon. The Heritage Bungalows are compact independent cottages, set in lush lawns along the canals.

The Heritage Mansions are larger, with an upper story defined by distinctive wooden ribs that resemble the sides of a boat. Most of these afford fine views of the lake.

Beyond, on their own quiet section of lake front, are the Pool Villas. Peace and privacy combine here, with private pools, distinctive interiors and even your own little hammock, tied up front.