Backwater Ripples: Lake Resort at Kumarakom, 2003

The uniqueness of the lake resort is that twenty-one cottages and twelve rooms have been comfortably accommodated on a small plot of land abutting Lake Vembanadu, ten kilometers out of Kottayam in Kerala and every room is oriented to a lake view. Such a design challenge has been met by placing the cottages in staggered rows or lifting the bedrooms to a mezzanine level. At the same time the layout ensures that all rooms enjoy the minimum privacy for such a resort.

The cottages reflect a variety of styles though they are all built according to traditional Kerala design, with a generous use of timber, combined with bricks, stone and mangalore tiles. These natural materials, together with the lapping of the lake water, on the banks of the resort resonating with the ripples of the swimming pool, all induce an inimitable ambience that is Kumarakom’s alone.

And yet the resort can rise to busy schedules. Under the conical traditional tiled roofs the contemporary designs of the front office, the conference room with “hifi” fittings, the dining room with attached bar, the lawn for larger gatherings cater to business requirements.

The clock tower is one that all passers by look out for, as it tells the time in the boats on the lake.