Edassery Eastend - A Blissful Abode

The Edassery Eastend is one of Munnar's landmarks, which is located in the heart of the town and very spacious with lots of greenery. The architecture is an interesting blend of colonial and traditional style. Artfully landscaped gardens and walkways surround the property offering brilliant surrounding views. The group has 18 properties in Kerala and Ooty. Varkerachan, managing director of the group has been in the tourism industry for the past two decades. They have also opened a Hotel Management Institute at Adimaly, about 30 kilometers away from Munnar.

Surveying the property, Rajesh Nair, general manager of the property gave us an insight to this wonderful place. According to Nair, the tourist inflow to Munnar is on the rise. "Tourist from north India prefer Munnar as it is also known as 'South Kashmir'.

The climate and scenic beauty of this place adds to the liking of tourist." During peak season, which is the Diwali Holidays, Munnar is full of tourists.

This resort is built over 3.5 acres of land, with 43 rooms comprising of 20 super delux, five honeymoon bungalows and 18 duplexes. This eight-year old property has a conference hall that can easily accommodate up to 300 guests. Besides, even though 90 per cent of the clientele are tourist, coporate clients pour in off and on. With the growing importance of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions), corporates use Munnar as a dual destination both for business as well as leisure.

The other facilities on offer include a Green Restaurant, coffee shop, bookshop, cyber cafe, 24 hour room service, mini shopping kiosk, travel desk, children's play area, barbeque and campfire, ayurvedic fitness and rejuvenation centre in ethnic Kerala style, multigym, snooker, table tennis and a special area for honeymoon couples called the 'Couples Kissing Point'.

Finally, the property prefers to stand by their motto - Hosting you is our privilege and serving you is an honour - where guest are concerned and which is very apt and befitting.

Vythiri Resort: Primordial Magic

Vythiti Resort in the Wayanad district of North Kerala is a jungle retreat set on 30 acres of land that was once a coffee plantation, which one can reach by crossing over a gurgling stream on a rope bridge. The Resort was developed in several phases.

In the first phase, six cottages were remodeled into comfortable guest accommodation from the plantation workers' living quarters. The entrance was shifted so that it could face the stream flowing behind the rooms. A reception area, conference hall and cottages on the other side of this stream were also constructed. Since the workers' quarters were built by mud, the architects decided to retain this and extend it to the other buildings as well. However, this experience of working with mud had its practical difficulties and hence the technique was changed for phase two. Local mud was used as mortar for plastering and consolidated earth blocks and granite as the chief construction materials. During this phase, 12 more cottages were added and a tribal village was created. Tribals, who used their indigenous techniques of construction on a given foundation, built these cottages.

The cottages have walls made with bamboo weave that is plastered with mud. The flooring is red oxide and with built in beds. Bamboo has been extensively used here, for doorframes and bathrooms. The cottage overlooking the stream have been designed in a way that one can enjoy the serenity of the forest to the maximum. The interiors are spacious, with large openings that virtually bring the forest inside the room. Some cottages are built on stilts with a staircase joining them and these can be turned into duplex accommodations for families.

The positive aspect of this renovation at Vythiri is that not a single tree was cut to build this resort. Natural spring is the source of water to all rooms, along with solar heating. All timber used for construction was commercial timber. Natural material find their way into the interiors also, with cane furniture's, terracotta figures of wild animals and bamboo log fixtures.

For a memorable, hassle free holiday, away from the urban noise and pollution - Vythiri is the place to be next time.