Surya Samudra Kovalam is the living expression of Kerala’s ancient and vibrant civilisation. Spread over lush green acres of landscaped tropical gardens and insulated from the busy tourist seaside, this tranquil paradise sits on top of a cliff overlooking pristine beaches by the Arabian Sea and is an ideal retreat for a Kerala luxury honeymoon.

Surya Samudra with IndianExplorations.com

If you long to luxuriate in a peaceful, exotic beachside setting then Surya Samudra is for you. It is set in 20 acres of landscaped gardens with polished dark-wood cottages, reconstituted by local craftsmen from 100-year-old traditional Keralan homes and are surrounded by coconut plantations. Perfect for a Kerala luxury honeymoon they are set well apart and perch on a hillside overlooking the Arabian Sea. The beaches are naturally secluded, keeping the hustle and bustle of the world outside at bay.There’s also a delicious jade-coloured infinity pool with underwater sculptures which segues into the ocean below, plus a dedicated Ayurvedic spa and cliff-edge yoga platform for reducing you to a puddle of serenity. Just like their guests, the cuisine they serve is from all over the world – with the added delight of local delicacies. Whichever you choose, Oottupura, the all-day dining restaurant, or Kanal, the grill, you will enjoy a view of the sea at all times. And, of course, you can always let your hair down at our poolside bar – Madira.

Kerala Luxury Honeymoon with IndianExplorations.com

Surya Samudra is a beautiful and luxurious cliff-top resort with glossy heritage cottages, an Ayurvedic spa, restaurants and an infinity pool looking out over the stunning sea – indeed a perfect setting for a Kerala luxury honeymoon.

Kerala Luxury Honeymoon with IndianExplorations.com

Luxury Kerala Holidays -

Kerala can now offer a fantastic experience to the discerning traveler. Nowhere in India will you find a more gentle and relaxed state than Kerala; tucked away in the south west corner, between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. I recently visited this land of coconuts which is criss-crossed by rivers and waterways. After working hard throughout the year as everyone does, I was looking for a beautiful journey and Kerala just ticked all the boxes. Planning such a trip wasn’t easy as I was interested in staying in hotels that offer more then simply the comforts of an exotic hotel. I wanted to see the best of Kerala’s culture and art in a contemporary yet timeless setting. My search ended at Malabar Escapes. If you are looking for luxury Kerala holidays I can promise that there isn’t a better place than the experiences that Malabar Escapes offer.

Privacy with IndianExplorations.com

In 1997 they opened their first property the Malabar House, a 20th century bungalow at Fort Cochin. Word of mouth quickly spread the message and with the success they added Privacy then Serenity, Trinity and finally Discovery, our houseboat. The properties are at a distance that makes it a perfect circuit for a luxury Kerala holiday with minimum road travel.  Not very far from Malabar House is Trinity, a three suite contemporary design inset in an old building. Giving the feel of a contemporary apartment, it’s ideal for those who want more privacy than they’d get staying at a hotel. It is ideally located for walking through Fort Cochin. Once you enjoyed the sightseeing, antique and curio shopping at Jew Town travel to Privacy at sanctuary bay, a secluded and personal setting right on the shore of Lake Vembanad which is a perfect gateway to the pristine backwaters. There is no place more stylish to cleanse yourself than this peaceful retreat. Privacy has two bungalows each having their private sit outs and verandahs overlooking Lake Vembanad. The pool is half way between the two bungalows. For guests hungry for a bit more activity they keep mountain bikes to explore the surroundings or sail along the shores of the lake using their dinghy’s. If that’s not enough, take a cruise on the luxury houseboat discovery which is a traditional hull of a wooden rice barge with contemporary tropical architecture. Malabar Escapes believes in customizing your experience and therefore one can spend as many nights as they want on this boat to explore the backwaters, a self supporting ecosystem of lakes, canals and estuaries that connect many villages.

Malabar House with IndianExplorations.com

The land of coconuts is also famous for its rubber estates and spice plantations. A perfect inclusion in your luxury Kerala holidays would be a visit to Serenity which is on a hill top en route Periyar. Serenity at Kanam estate is an intensely private villa hotel surrounded by rubber estates and tropical spice gardens.  This 1920’s estate bungalow has fully retained its heritage ambience and blends into an unspoiled rural setting. Each room has period furniture with verandahs and sit outs. During your stay enjoy a visit to the spice plantations, spend a day with the elephant or pamper yourself with an ayurvedic massage.

Kerala houseboats with IndianExplorations.com

The most recent addition is Purity a superbly crafted villa overlooking the Vembanad Lake. All rooms have a terrace overlooking the Vembanad Lake. Just 50 kms from Fort Cochin, it’s being promoted as a spa destination and will offer 3 to 14 day retreats.  Previously known as Casa Del Fauno, it was recently acquired by Malabar Escapes and after being refurbished the superbly crafted purity will offer unique experiences to its guests. It will also be the departure point for acclaimed houseboat, Discovery.

Luxury Holidays to Kerala with IndianExplorations.com

For someone planning luxury Kerala holidays, each of these properties have an idyllic setting and comforts beyond the Teflon hospitality. Malabar Escapes promises to enrich your life by offering experiences for all senses.

Tiger Safaris in India -

A fantastic initiative to save the tiger was launched yesterday by Aircel, a company renowned for its mobile service in India. It partnered with a respected and reliable news channel called NDTV to provide a platform to tiger conservationists for issues to be raised, engaging key stakeholders in discussions and providing concerned citizens an opportunity to voice their opinions and contribute to the cause.

Tiger Safaris in India with IndianExplorations.com

The king of Bollywood Mr. Amitabh Bachchan joined the initiative as the campaign ambassador and showed his support for the cause by spending an entire day in the pristine forest of Pench. The setting was the beautiful Bagh Van lodge that is on the top of everyone’s list when it comes to tiger safaris in India. NDTV-Aircel ‘Save Our Tigers’ initiative set the agenda for the campaign through a LIVE TELETHON to engage all the key stakeholders and tiger experts to voice their opinion on what needs to be done to protect the tigers. The highlight of the campaign was live, non-stop programming for a day dedicated to tigers, with the aim of creating public outcry and helping to raise funds to protect our tigers from extinction.  Over a million people pledged their support to this cause including famous personalities from the corporate and political world.  Several famous artists played music including Shankar Mahadevan who did a live performance at Pench to help raise funds for such a worthy cause.

In Delhi and across the whole nation children from different schools participated and staged shows to raise funds and to generate awareness to save the tiger. It was a great platform for some like Bittu Saihgal who bring with them huge of amount of experience in wildlife to connect to the masses and tell them why we should strive to save this wonderful animal.  It was really an interesting day in the history on Indian wildlife as you could see the entire nation coming together for such a worthy cause.  Many felt that this could actually bring India together as the cause had nothing to do with religion, caste or creed.

In a single day the Save the Tiger campaign was able to raise £600,000 which in real terms meant 35 rapid response teams who will be equipped to protect our tigers and respond to any emergency in and around our tiger parks. For this they have partnered with Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), an NGO which endeavours to strengthen the protection of forest ecosystems and mitigate climate change by working towards Forest Protection, Training and capacity building of forest personnel, Motivation of forest personnel, Health and education of communities living along forest periphery and strengthening NGOs and individuals working in the field of wildlife conservation.

For a tiger safari in Pench, staying at Bagh Van Lodge or any of the other lodges in Kanha, Corbett, Satpura or Bandhavgarh, contact IndianExplorations.com, the wildlife specialists!

Luxury holidays to India

Luxury,  as easy as it sounds is in fact extremely difficult when you actually try to define it.  During my visit to Rajasthan in July 2009, I came across the Aman Resorts, a chain of luxury resorts scattered not far away from each other in the colourful state of Rajasthan.  Since 1988 when the flagship Amanpuri opened in Phuket, Aman has established three resorts in India redefining luxury holidays to India.

Aman Bagh with IndianExplorations.com

It’s difficult to express the guests experience at Aman as it ticks all the boxes. It offers an intimate and discreet experience while providing the highest level of service. Each resort and setting is unique, but certain elements characterise all of them — a beautiful natural location, outstanding facilities, exceptional service and a small number of rooms to ensure exclusivity and privacy.  From the garden estate Amanbagh set in the foothills of the Aravallis built in a haveli style to the wilderness camp Aman I Khas that sits on a gentle slope on the fringes of Ranthambore National Park against a backdrop of hills each leaves an impression, an indelible mark. Their newest addition is Aman Delhi just minutes from the grandeur of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the peaceful Lodhi gardens. It completes the triangle for someone in search of luxury holidays to India. The design of the resort is contemporary, complemented with Indian touches such as hand-made rugs and jaali screens. Spacious suites afford guests the opportunity to relax in enveloping comfort.

Amanikhas with IndianExplorations.com

Aman excursions are a class apart. I was particularly impressed by their walks that can be combined with culture trails.  At Aman Bagh the resort can arrange day trips to the Pink city of Jaipur and walks to the surrounding countryside.  The experience at Aman I Khas is focused on wildlife viewing. Having said that they also arrange visits to the Old City and Khandar Fort which is one of Rajasthan dramatic ruins. Not very far from the resort is the Banas River, an ideal spot for a picnic style lunch. The pools are fringed by water grass and decorated with lilies, creating an excellent feeding ground for wading birds and other water fowl. Guests can enjoy a half-day excursion to this birder’s paradise, strolling the banks of the river with a naturalist. At Aman Delhi they arrange off the beaten track tours to the Moghul city of Shahajanabad or to several private galleries that regularly host art exhibitions of paintings, pottery, sculptures, photographic art and prints by many up-and-coming artists.

Luxury Holidays to India with IndianExplorations.com

The Spa at Aman Resorts is a class apart. It provides a refined and peaceful environment in which to relax. Using organic Aman products created from pure and proactive ingredients, traditional treatments as well as henna art, local specialities are on offer.

Tiger Safaris in India – The high season for travel in India – especially for wildlife safaris – is traditionally from late October until mid April, with February and March being the peak months in north and central India – and for good reason. The bitter cold of January mornings and evenings has lost its edge and the vegetation is beginning to die back allowing for greater visibility especially in the moist forests dominated by sal trees. But the fact is that each month has something special to offer and my favourite time is undoubtedly the green lush period after the monsoon. As I write this in early October, I am in the middle of travelling slowly through the remoter parts of central India visiting old friends in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna Tiger Reserves and checking out the rash of new properties that have crowded into these beautiful places – of which more later.

Tiger Safaris in India with IndianExplorations.com

At Jabalpur station I am met by my friend Jehan Bhujwala who – with his wife Katie – owns and runs the lovely Shergarh Camp in Mukki, Kanha. As we twist, turn, rock and roll around and through the potholes that do service for the highway between Jabalpur and Mandla I stare delightedly out of the window at the impossibly beautiful countryside we are driving through. Lush deep green paddy fields crowd against the dark green forested hills of the Maikal Range of the Satpura Mountains. This is a region that is blessed with rich soil and plentiful water. It is drained by the stunningly beautiful Narmada River – the Sacred Virgin – that cleanses even the Ganges of its burden of sins. Against the mosaic of subtle greens the cluster of beautiful red-tiled roofs that mark a village or hamlet add interest and depth to the scenery. The houses here are substantial – built of mud and wood with the elegance and beauty of architecture evolved and honed over centuries to deal with the climate, social conventions, practical requirements and available raw materials. Traditional architecture, in short and it is magnificent. I drive through prosperous villages in Jehan’s open jeep that are spotless, uncontaminated by plastic and the horrors of flat RCC roofs.  In one charming village, half the village high street appears to be occupied by just a handful of dwellings stretching amazing distances on either side of the road, pierced periodically by elegant gateways that lead to large courtyards. As I peer through them I can see that behind the outer wall is a thriving community of inter-connected homes, courtyards, wells, barns, cow-sheds – clearly the dwelling of an entire clan where the high wall screens the women folk from public gaze and allows for complete privacy. It is utterly charming and unique to this region.

Tiger safaris in India with IndianExplorations.com

We ford crystal clear streams that are overhung by arjuna and jamun trees and patrolled by dozens of species of dragonflies. Indeed nothing can compare with the sheer richness of colourful insect life at this time. Village ponds, meadows, streams have their air-space densely occupied by dozens of hawkers, darters, darners, ghosts, ditch jewels stacked high in darting squadrons, wings glittering dangerously in the sunlight. Magic!

Luxury Holidays in Kerala . The common perception of a luxury Kerala holiday is balmy backwaters, boutique resorts, palm-fringed beaches. Of course Kerala has these – and in superlative abundance.

Privacy in Kerala with IndianExplorations.com

So much so that several blogs can and probably will be devoted to Kerala backwaters and beaches! What a lot of people don’t know is that Kerala is an absolute paradise for nature lovers, walkers, birders, cyclists and kayakers. The birding and wildlife is absolutely outstanding. In the lowlands a famous bird sanctuary is the Salim Ali Sanctuary,Thattekkadu. This is one the last extensive patch of lowland rain forest left in Kerala and is a haven for over 300 species of birds including such rarities as the Ceylon Frogmouth, Peninsular race of the Jungle Owlet, Mountain hawk-eagle, Jerdon’s Baza and much more. A charming and comfortable tented camp called Hornbill is situated just opposite the sanctuary across the Periyar River. They keep kayaks at camp and that is a thoroughly enjoyable way of exploring this lush landscape of rain forest and emerald paddy fields with the high ranges of the Western Ghats in the background. As you venture into these you are offered a wonderful choice of converted homes, plantation bungalows and purpose built resorts many tucked away in quiet, remote valleys or ridge commanding magnificent views.

The Malabar House in Kerala with IndianExplorations.com

One of our favourites is a place called Paradisa Resort owned by Simon Paulose. From the cottages – restored heritage wooden Kerala homes – and the dining room you look out over a superb mountain landscape of forest, tea and coffee plantations and spice gardens. Even the cardamom and coffee estates which require the shade of rainforest giants, are a haven for birders and the local walking trails where you may be guided by a tribal guide can reveal a colourful wealth of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and plants. Back at Paradisa you can cool off from the mid-day heat in the charming swimming pool designed in the shape of Simon’s wife’s foot (or so the story goes!) or work off cricks and stiffness with an Ayurvedic massage. Paradisa also serves superb food – traditional Kerala specialities and they also organise classes for this interested in learning about the unique flavours of Kerala cooking, that distinguish it from other south Indian cuisines.

Luxury Holidays to Kerala with IndianExplorations.com

Not far from Paradisa is one of India’s great tiger reserves – Periyar – with its herds of wild elephants and immense habitat diversity that supports the greatest variety of birds, insects, reptiles and probably mammals of any park in south India. For the intrepid walker and wildlife enthusiast the real joy of Periyar is in the buffer forests where you can experience an absolutely amazing rain-forest trek – but that is for another blog!

Tiger Safaris and Goa

Possibly the best area to see tigers anywhere is the clutch of reserves that span the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (and parts of neighbouring Maharashtra) that occupies the rugged heart of the subcontinent. With relatively low population densities and the largest absolute area of forest, this region – about the size of France – supports 8 tiger reserves of the total 30 that exist across the entire country. The habitats range from moist to dry deciduous jungles and each of the reserves offers a unique experience due to the differing scenery, habitat, surrounding cultural and historic attractions. Some of the reserves like Satpura also offer a unique model of tourism with a greater emphasis on walking safaris and enjoyment of the entire eco-system that the tiger occupies rather than just a tiger centric experience. While it is possible to visit all the parks of this region in one trip, we strongly advise limiting the number of parks to a maximum of 3 with at least four nights spent in each. If you are into walking and enjoying wildlife in a quiet undisturbed manner then Satpura should be part of any mix of parks where Forsyth’s Lodge offers very comfortable accommodation, excellent guiding and a unique wilderness experience. But as anyone who has a bit of experience knows, safaris can be hard work. By the end of two and a half weeks the lodge swimming pools simply don’t cut it for relaxation and thoughts can turn to vegetating by a beach somewhere.

Tiger Safaris in India with IndianExplorations.com

Goa lends itself perfectly to this role.  Despite the growth in charters this traffic remains pretty localised and huge swathes of coastal Goa remain quiet and charming, with a wonderful selection of beautifully restored boutique resorts and getaways. Some of them are so jealous of their seclusion that they won’t even tell you where they are located until you actually pay for the booking! The sea in Goa is always warm, the food is a delicious mix of Indian and Portuguese and because of it’s Portuguese association the state is exempt many of the excise and customs duties on alcohol that bind the rest of India. You guessed it – cheap and good booze. Which doesn’t mean that Sun, Sea and booze is the sum of Goa’s attractions. The colonial past has left a huge number of beautiful buildings, charming villas and distinctive villages; thriving markets offer some wonderful shopping and the wildlife – particularly the birds – are nothing short of spectacular. People forget that backing the Goa coast is a high range of mountains – the Sahyadris of the Western Ghats which are clothed in wet and rain forest teeming with a colourful array of birds and other wildlife. A couple of lovely camps and lodges allow you access to these treasures and the opportunity to experience the contrast and diversity of Goa. Hmmm, trying to think of a good title for a safari and Goa holiday – Tigers & Vindaloo? Perhaps not…

Goa with IndianExplorations.com

Kerala luxury safari holidays are a fantastic option to get away from the crowds and really explore this magical slice of coastal India which encompasses such a variety of landscapes. Start off in the balmy backwaters at sea level and head inland rising to the middle hills and then up into the magical high country of the Western Ghats, the range of mountains that run parallel to the west coast of India for 1500 kms north to south. The coastal strip is narrow and the mountains that back it rise sharply catching the full weight of the monsoon with some parts receiving up to 200 inches of rain.

Kerala luxury safari holidays with IndianExplorations.com

Dense rain forest clothed these slopes once housing an incredible diversity of life. And even today – despite the surge of humanity up these mountains – they are counted amongst the worlds 24 biodiversity hotspots. Elephants roam these forests and I’ve seen tracks of tiger at over 600 feet high in the Munnar hills. Endemic species like Nilgiri Tahr (wild goat) and lion-tailed macaques make their home here. Coffee and cardamom with their dense cover are favourite haunts. At the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the buffer zone forests many of which now have an understorey of cardamom, it is possible to walk and camp in the wilderness. A single fruiting fig can hold one mesmerized as it attracts insects and birds to fruits and more birds hunting the insects and more birds hunting birds.

Tigers safaris with IndianExplorations.com

As evening falls the canopy comes alive with palm civets, eyes gleaming emerald in the torchlight and the distant trumpeting of elephants is suddenly drowned by the explosive alarm calls of sambar deer that sets the hair on the nape of your neck erect. In the morning you emerge from the tents and head out for another adventure packed day along trails that plunge across streams and then climb out to high clearings with the most exhilarating views you can imagine. And one of the joys of Kerala is that a luxury pad is never far from reach. I’ve always felt a little bit guilty ‘adventuring’ from such a luxury base – but the feeling passes quickly.

Luxury Kerala with IndianExplorations.com