A LUXURY STAY IN A PALACE

This summer break, my family and I finally booked a stay at the Lake Palace in Thekkady, managed by KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation). It is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve and is on an island in the Periyar Lake. It can be reached by a 20-minute boat ride from the mainland and is famous for animal sightings.

The resort was formerly the summer retreat of the Travancore Royal Family, which was transferred to the Government of India after Independence. During the British Era, it was used as a getaway by British Viceroys and Governor-Generals.

We had started from home around 6 AM and reached our destination by 11 AM. The journey was not great for me as I felt car-sick the whole way and felt better only after filling my tummy. We had a delicious breakfast of thattilkutti dosa, sambar, and chutney from Idli Kada in Muvattupuzha...if only I hadn't felt sick, i could have savoured it better.

We settled into our rooms, and I took the opportunity to observe the interior design and facilities provided at our stay. The room had a traditional look with wooden furniture and artifacts. The table mirror had elephant tusks on both sides. The use of bulbs recreated an old, oil-lamp-like ambience.

The middle-class kiddie inside me was overjoyed at finding 2 five-star chocolates and Bourbon chocolate biscuits inside the mini refrigerator. I immediately set out to the room occupied by my dad and brother to generously uncover the same in their room. But, to my disappointment,I found them having a chat with other dads at the entrance of the resort. Patient as I am, I waited for them in the room and successful received my commission for the discovery (got half of dad's chocolate).

For lunc,h we had Kerala meals with rice, sambar, moorozhichukoottan, fish curry, aviyal, chicken-65, pappadam, and payasam. The food was delicious! While going inside the reception area to wash our hands, we saw various articles and pictures of the royal family presented there including an old radio, different kinds of glasses, oil-lamps, and even a bookcase.

After lunch, we sat at the benches outside the building, facing the lake and the other bank. We caught sight of two elephants and a small baby elephant. In our attempt to get a better look at the animals with the binoculars provided by the resort staff, we got along with another Malayali family of six members, including father, mother, a daughter, and 3 younger sons. We shared our wildlife travel experiences as well as other personal information with each other until it was time for boating at 4 pm.

The boating proved successful as we got to take a closer look at many animals that had come to drink water. They included elephants(with baby elephants as well), Indian Gaur, Sambar deer, etc. After coming back, we talked with the other guests over coffee and hot pazhampuri and retired to our respective rooms to freshen up and rest. I took that time to get some reading done while my mother caught up with the news.

Dinner was quiet and pleasant, and we had chappathi, veg pulav ,paneer butter masala, dal, chicken curry, fish fry, ice-cream, and rasgulla. After dinner,Ia squeezed in some time for my diary entry and then we all went to bed.

NEXT DAY

Mom and I woke up later than usual today, as we had a lovely, long chat the previous night. While dad and bro took tea and morning walks, we both cuddled into our blankets. We had breakfast around 8 AM, and it was again a feast with fruits, idli, sambar, chutney, omelette, poori masala, and coffee. We vacated by 11:00 AM.

I loved this place with its warm ambience and quiet wildlife experience. Just sitting outside and looking at the water sparkling under the sunlight in the lake, with the animals grazing patiently on the other side, is deeply calming.