It is a wet cloudy day and a turn off the National Highway just beyond Angamaly leaves us on a tiny road, with the sudden change from bustling highway to peaceful countryside giving the impression of a sudden teleport.
It is a little way down this road, around a small bend, that we come upon the entrance to The Village, a resort that aims to recreate the ambience of the typical Kerala village.
Set in the peaceful bubble that is Mangattukara, just beyond the town of Angamaly, this 14-acre property that overlooks an aqueduct and abandoned paddy fields is a long time dream of Dr. Kurian K. John, 20 years in the making. The resort, which took four years to build and opened last month, is managed by his daughter Chippy Kurian, a former media professional who left her career in Australia to help build and manage the property. She greets us at the gate and takes us on a tour, the lush greenery provided by the numerous trees, their leaves clinging with droplets of rain, providing an atmosphere of serenity. “It was my father’s strict directive that the environment here should be preserved. I’ve done the landscaping and most of the décor myself,” she says as she leads us past an airy reception area set to one side of the walkway that runs through the compound. A cosy restaurant sprawls on the other side, with the tables spread in a wide veranda with the neatly framed covers of India-centric books adorning the walls.
As we progress in the cool stillness provided by the trees (Chippy says the compound is home to rambutan, pulasan, fig, papaya and many other varieties), she elaborates that the resort is aimed at families looking for a quiet getaway, but is also equipped to handle larger groups. “We do not provide televisions in the rooms, because the ambience is meant to be enjoyed, but we have a common room and a larger conference hall that can accommodate up to 120 people,” she says. The common room has a large television, some board games, and a pool table to keep guests entertained while they take a break from enjoying the surroundings. The resort also provides wifi across the entire property.
As we loop around the small grassy courtyard meant for outdoor events, the four cottages come into view, overlooking the fields that stretch out and give a sense of space beyond the outdoor porches that they provide. Dubbed ‘honeymoon cottages’, they are clean, comfortably furnished affairs ideal for couples looking to spend some quality time together. A small basketball court occupies the opposite side of the walkway. “We have a few wells and our own vegetable patch too, so all the rooms get fresh water from the wells and we use our own home-grown vegetables in the food wherever possible. Even the milk is from our own cows,” says Chippy.
The cottages are soon left behind and we are greeted by a sight that reminds every Keralite of home. Two traditional manas stand to one side of our path, the fine local architecture standing proud against the rain-soaked greenery in the backdrop. “These ‘heritage manas’ were brought in from Muvattupuzha and Pala and rebuilt here, with necessary adjustments, such as raising the walls and doors to suit taller residents,” says Chippy. The first of the manas has a single bedroom, and a living room, with details like a small storage area and a little attic intact.
The second mana, with three interconnected bedrooms and a loft, is better suited for large families who want to be in close proximity during their stay. Small plunge pools outside the manas help enhance the idyllic feel of the place.
Up next is the local village pond, located in a dip under the shade of more trees. With the light greenish tinge to the water that ponds are known for, and the occasional leaf and floating algae, it brings back memories of childhood learning to tread water and fearing the depths. Vehicles ply across a distant bridge, the only sign of hustle that penetrates the calmness of The Village.
Besides the cottages and manas, The Village has two buildings with five rooms each. While these lack the old world charm of the other dwellings, they make up for it in sheer size and comfort, offering more of an upmarket resort feel, compared to the comfortable homeliness of the manas.
Behind these buildings is the pool, a five foot deep expanse of blue water, with a shallower section and a kids’ pool. The pool is open to non-residents for swimming sessions and coaching is available as well.
As we head back to the restaurant and seat ourselves, we are greeted with a hot meal comprising of tomato and coconut rice, fried fish, rotis and more. “We encourage families to come and spend a day here, and offer packages that allow them the use of the common room and all facilities without needing to stay a night. The restaurant is also open to public, and we’re working on converting a part of it into a café. Our staff is also always on hand to help with activities, such as planting in the vegetable patch and working in the paddy fields,” says Chippy.
After watching a short burst of rain from inside the restaurant, we finally take our leave. As the gates of the resort disappear behind us, it feels good to know that in this world of shrinking hours and rising stress levels, there is a wooded retreat to escape to, untouched by it all.
For more details about The Village, log on to >www.thevillagekerala.com or call 9846797338.
(The writer was at the resort on invitation.)
