Kerala – delightfully local weekends

April 26, 2015

Kerala Weekends – From Chennai

Kerala is an extremely underrated weekend-breaks-destination. From Bangalore, and even from Chennai. It’s extremely well connected both by roads and trains, and recently, Air Asia has started operations there with some sweet pricing.

From Chennai, for instance, there are a dozen and a half trains between Chennai and Ernakulam (Cochin)!

http://indiarailinfo.com/search/chennai-central-mas-to-ernakulam-south-ers/35/0/52

This makes for easy options for a 3 day break. And Kerala is one of the richest experiences in terms of what you can do and see around there – so you can keep going back for more.

Check out the Linger locations in Kerala. And get in touch for more at stay@linger.in

May 3, 2014March 13, 2015

The Palathra Heritage at Mararikulam. Getting there, and Around

Location:

At Mararikulam, off NH-47, take the Beach Road towards the Arabian Sea. Just after the Mahadeva (Shiva) Temple there, there’s a right turn onto the Mararikulam – Kanichukulangara Road. A few hundred metres into this, you will see the gate and signboard for “Palathra Heritage” on your left.

How To Get There (from Bangalore) :

Trains : Take an overnight train to Alleppey. From the station you’ll get plenty of cabs to cover the 16 odd km to Mararikulam. The cabs should charge your 450-500/-. If the train stops at Cherthala, about 10km from Palathra, you could disembark there as well.

You could also take a train to Ernakulam (Cochin) – many more trains go upto there. The distance from here to Palathra is about 50kms, and cabs should be available easily. If you find a connecting train to Cherthala, that’s a good option as well.

Buses : Overnight Volvos headed to Alleppey or beyond should drop you at Cherthala or even Mararikulam (check with them as you board) from where you should get autos or cabs to Palathra Heritage.

By Air (from Cochin) :

Take a flight into Kochi (Cochin). You should get plenty of cabs there to get you to Mararikulam, about 90km away.

Around There

The Beach : Marari’s famous beach is just about a kilometer away – you could walk/ride or take an auto.
St. Andrew’s Forane Basilica, Arthunkal : a beautiful 16th century Church about 7km away on the picturesque beach highway.
The Mahadeva Temple : A centuries old Shiva temple a short walk away is the only temple where Sree Mahadeva and Parvathi Devi sit facing each other.
Vembanad Lakea and the backwaters : The Muhamma Boat Jetty on the Vembanad lake is a few kms on the other side of the NH. Backwater cruises, and boats and ferries to the other side to get to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and to get to the Pathiramanal Island – another pretty paradise for birdwatchers – are available here.
Alleppey itself is a quick cab/auto/bus ride away. Old churches, ancient temples, trading hubs, the canals criss crossing town and the beach give the town a very timeless feel.
Fort Kochi is a great one day trip – a lot of old buildings, Chinese fishing nets, world and trading history and shopping in a very walkable few square kilometers along the harbour.

Locally, autos, cabs and even public transport (buses, trains and ferries!) are plentiful and if you’d like, we’ll call one for you. Plan a trip to the Palathra Heritage, Mararikulam for a week long vacation, true Kerala style. The property has 5 old wooden huts transplanted in a green garden, authentic Kerala food and is perfectly situated for all of the above!

For reservations : stay@linger.in or +91-959-005-0001

April 4, 2014April 10, 2014

The Himalayas, Wildlife and Kerala! Linger grows

We’re now live at 3 very do-nothing, quiet locations across the country. And with this, we have our first properties in Kerala and the Himalayas now live.

Vanghat, Marchula, in the Corbett Buffer Zone

At the end of a 2 km journey on foot and a raft across the river is this seriously committed-to-forests property that respects its surroundings even while making it accessible to us. Run by a naturalist and a team that’s friendly – both with the guests as well as the forests. You’ll love the place, and learn a lot, we assure you!

Chestnut Grove, Vijaypur (Uttarakhand)

6750ft high up in a very quiet, relatively unknown part of the Himalayas is Vijaypur (or Bijepur) a small little tea town with pine and oak forests, tea estates, and old temple or two and miles of opportunity for walks, hikes and treks. Or of course, do nothing but read a book, sip on tea and enjoy the stunning views of the snow clad mountains in the distance.

The Palathra Heritage, Mararikula, Allepey (Kerala)

Amidst the very green, laidback Mararikulam village is an unassuming little space where a very passionate family has resettled old, traditional houses in a backwaters setting. Illam, Eatti, Chandanam, Maavu and Plaavu – the names themselves tell a story of a different time in a context that attempts to keep up with the same even as the world around changes rapidly. The beach is a short walk/ride away, as is the pretty Vembanad lake and the famed Kerala backwaters. What a trip!

We’re adding a few more places. Keep watching the action on our Facebook page. For reservations, as always – we’re at stay@linger.in and at +91-959-005-0001.