While going to kanyakumari, I wanted to experience backwaters and also take my parents to some beach(since they stay in north India and it’s not many a times they come so close to ocean). After lot of research, I zeroed on this resort and it’s also an associate resort of Club Mahindra, thereby making it even more preferable.
As promised and expected, the location of the resort is truly amazing and rarest of all. The resort is just opposite an estuary where Poovar(or Neyyar) river meets the sea through a very narrow opening. From the resort you have a view of river, beach and the sea beyond and it’s lovely when you can see and walk upon just a thin stretch of sandy beach surrounded from all sides by water. The famed kerala backwaters are just at the backside. In fact, the boat to the resort itself goes through narrow canal/lake and palm/coconut/banana trees try to kiss each other from both sides and present a splendid view.
So, whatever you have read till now, you must be thinking it’s gonna be lot of fun. However, it’s a complete disappointment afterwards when you have soaked up the natural beauty and look for what all you can do at such a great location. Obviously you will look for because it’s by no way less than expensive.
It’s very good resort for kind of people who want a great location to just relax, lie down and read something. For all others, it’s really silly if you can only enjoy the waters from a distance and not being able to experience it. If someone books a floating cottage then probably he/she can feel more blessed because one can at least enjoy the nature from their balcony all times unless some naked and poor children from neighboring fishermen’s village come on a boat upto your balcony asking for alms.
The beach is dirty like anything, and the resort just feels content by mentioning on its pamphlet(provided on reception and room) that beach and the estuary is not a property of the resort. And I guess it was no use asking them if they could just arrange some cleaning for their own benefit. In fact, there are at least two more resorts nearby. Since the river water is muddy so entire stretch of beach is not fit for swimming/bathing. The only thing that resort offers is some backwater cruises, the one sunset cruise I opted for, and it was a complete waste of money and time. The boat that brought us to resort was much better experience than a bamboo driven country boat that was moving so painfully slow. On top of that, the sunset is to be seen only from the resort then why name it sunset cruise!
The food is good enough and the best part of the resort is its accomodation. However, again most of the land cottages are too far on the island to have any good view except gardens. The garden is good though.
Another annoying part is staff. There are only 2-3 people who can understand/speak english and can communicate with guests. All others seem village people who are not at all trained. Some things that I still remember are serving curry over chapatis, just staring like fool when you try to order something. I don’t think it’s expected to find such ill trained staff at such high end resort.
So, in summary the resort location, accomodation and food is good but it’s completely lacking in offering activities on site. Especially when the location is in backwaters and beach.