Coconut Lagoon Kumarakom- a CGH Earth Experience

If you want to experience the warmth of Indian hospitality amidst the beauty and tranquility of God’s own Country, CGH earth’s Coconut Lagoon Kumarakom is THE resort to book… I have been to Kerala many times in the past. Visited almost the entire state barring few places in the north for the state like Calicut, Wayanad, Kannur, Mallapuram, etc. But the stay in Coconut Lagoon Kumarakom has by far been the best experience of my Kerala sojourns. Spread across an area of about 30 acres, this picturesque resort is flanged by Kavanar river on one side and India’s longest, the magnificent Vembanad lake on the other. It has 49-keys divided into 3 categories of rooms, listed in order of base to premium as under: Heritage Bungalows, Heritage Mansions and Lake front Villas with private pool. This resort has lots to offer viz, 2 restaurants (one of them being speciality seafood restaurant called Aymanam and the other multi-cuisine, called Ettukettu), a swimming pool, a small gym, cultural centre, clay craft area, a souvenir shop, butterfly garden, paddy fields, fish rearing areas, cow shed, yoga centre, Ayurveda centre with Doctor and therapists, large wandering areas, a common television room (Yes, you will not find a TV in your rooms. Logic? : To unwind, one has to be away from as many ****** as possible, including the idiotbox ), etc. Right next to the famous Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (closed during monsoons), you can spot various species of birds in the resort itself. All-in-all, Coconut Lagoon resort is quintessentially a replica of typical Kerala backwaters life, crisscrossed with canals which you often have to cross over a bridge to probably get to your room from the restaurant or may be the cultural centre or the clay craft area. So, we booked for 2 nights’ stay during 2nd week of August’25 and immediately upon reaching the resort, repented for not booking a longer stay. One has to take an approx 10 minutes boat ride on Kavanar river to reach the resort which is exactly at the mouth of the river where it meets the lake. There’s a road as well to take, but by all means : avoid that. The resort has its own car parking area near the private jetty, from where it operates complimentary boat services (to and fro) every half an hr. Upon reaching the reception, we were welcomed with tender coconut water (true to its name), handed a resort’s map and an extremely courteous and generous staffs. They were so mindful that a day before our scheduled visit, the property manager bagger WhatsApped us the way to reach, informed about the boat services and asked our tentative time of arrival so that the staff at the jetty were well informed. We checked-in by about 4 ish. After getting a glimpse of the layout on the resort-map, we went to our Heritage Bungalow room. I had booked this room category because : (a) we wanted privacy and (b) unlike a Heritage Mansion, its bath and sleeping areas weren’t on 2 different levels. But on reaching our assigned room, we got a

The place carries a certain magic, woven not only into its surroundings but into the kindness of the people who strive to gift you moments worth remembering. The ambience, the flavors, and the quiet presence of the Vembanad lake make it feel like time itself pauses in reverence. We cherished it deeply. Yet, like all beautiful things, it whispers of its own incompleteness—perhaps a little more care in housekeeping would allow the experience to truly blossom, ensuring that every guest may savor the magic without distraction.

We had an exceptional stay at Coconut Lagoon Kumarakom! We booked 2 rooms and were blown away by the friendly and accommodating staff who went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. Our daughter had a wonderful time, and the food was truly exceptional - the buffet dinner and breakfast were highlights of our stay. The team was attentive to our requests, and the attention to detail was impressive. The sunset cruise was phenomenal - a perfect way to experience the beauty of Kumarakom.

This was my third visit to Kumarakom and my first stay with CGH. We arrived late, so missed their signature welcome, though I did get a glimpse of it with other guests. We stayed in the Lakefront Pool Villa and it was everything I could have wished for. The villa felt homely, tastefully decorated with local pieces and perfectly placed between the backwaters and paddy fields. Mornings on the balcony, listening to birds and insects, were serene, while evenings brought the soothing sound of rain on the front porch. Early risers are treated to a glimpse of village life; fishermen checking their nets and racing boats practicing, complete with lively pep talks from their coaches. Dining exceeded expectations despite there being only two restaurants. Live counters are a must-try, though they can get busy and a couple of times our orders got mixed. A table number system would help streamline orders and I was glad to see Midhun, one of the servers, already doing this on our last day. He deserves special mention for his attentive service, warm interactions and eye for detail. One evening, we ordered Duck Mappas and were pleasantly surprised when the chef herself came out to apologise for a delay. She explained that the first batch had overcooked, so they restarted the dish. We truly appreciated her honesty and care, we hadn’t even noticed the wait as we were enjoying the ambience. Overall, the food is fresh, flavorful and comforting in its simplicity. The famous Chai Chechi is a resort highlight, bringing tea and snacks every evening. While the experience is charming, the crowd of phones and cameras made it feel less authentic. I understand someone posted a reel and made the whole thing viral, but I wonder how she feels about as it can be overwhelming to have a crowd clicking and recording constantly. The F&B team steps in to take orders and serve the tea and snacks which I am sure she appreciates. The main restaurant hosts cooking demos every evening, where chefs explain ingredients and steps in a simple, engaging way. I joined one session and witnessed a heartwarming moment; a guest patiently translating the entire demo for another, even though they had just met. These are the wholesome connections that make travel so special. The resort also runs different cultural shows every evening. I admire the use of local talent, giving guests a true taste of Kerala’s culture. Unfortunately, some guests would barge in mid performace or chat loudly during performances which dampened the experience. Anywhere in the world this would be considered extremely disrepctfuly behaviour for live performances. The staff needs to step in and set some basic house rules for guests. I checked their gift shop and was able to pick up some cotton tops/kaftans in local designs. They do stock a variety of items including toileteries and essentials. If you plan to visit during the monsoon season, expect it to rain at any point. There are umbrellas provided and holders to