Culture, Football & Rains: Ingredients for The Perfect Holiday!

Being stressed at work is no fun. Plan a short holiday with the kids and make it a memorable one! Come to Cochin, a city that is a bustling commercial centre on one side and a laid-back quaint cultural outpost on the other. 

                       

Courtesy: http://www.virtourist.com/asia/india/kochi/index.html

Step in to Fort Kochi and you are in an entirely different world; it's almost like being transported to another era. The area is considered to be one of the oldest European settlements in India. The streets and ancient buildings reflects a mosaic of different cultures from diverse parts of the world. A leisurely walk down old colonial streets affords a breathtaking view of the Chinese fishing nets along beach, the Jewish Synagogue, the Dutch Palace, the Portuguese and British architecture, all finely blending in with local culture. 

Fort Kochi is also as the place for football lovers. Soak in a thrilling game of football during this season of rains in Fort Kochi! The annual Soccer Fest “Shoot the Rain” is held every monsoon at the Fort Kochi Parade grounds; this year, it is scheduled for July 3rd and 4th. The Fest brings together soccer teams from all over Kerala, setting aside all social differences.

Football and culture make for a heady mix. You can soak in some heritage during your stay here by booking into the Abad Grande Residencia! Once the beautiful house of the Koder family, the most illustrious Jewish family in Cochin, it is now one of the most gracious hospitality centres in the city. The long verandas, the Portuguese doors and windows and the open courtyard are all hallmarks of another century, which have been lovingly restored. You can also experience a hot oil bath and rejuvenate yourself at the Ayurvedic spa, Revival.

It's namaste to football and history this July! Click here to plan a great vacation now!

Recharge with Ayurveda this monsoon!

Long stretches of golden sandy beaches, lush hills and mountains, beautiful lagoons, crystal-clear waterfalls, exotic wildlife and carpets of coconut, banana, tea and spice plantations all contribute to making Kerala a slice of Paradise on Earth. It is indeed God’s Own Country. The splash of monsoons accentuates the beauty of Kerala: the atmosphere takes on a sheen of clarity, with all the dust and dirt washed away by the downpour.

This is also an excellent time to cleanse your body of toxins, says Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system. Today it is a unique and indispensable branch of medicine which is practised with dedication in Kerala. Ayurveda therapies during the monsoon are the best way to rejuvenate your mind and replenish your body. Kerala’s equable climate and the natural abundant forests and cool monsoon season are best suited for Ayurveda healing techniques.

Revive, the Ayurveda Spa from Abad Hotels, offers a number of treatment packages that help you rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. The Recharge package offers a combination of two classical treatments of 'Pizhichil' and 'Abhyangam' based on 'Panchamahabhutha' (the five elements) – the foundation of Ayurveda: the human body is a blend of the five elements of earth, fire, water, air and space.

Ayurveda believes in the treatment of not just the affected parts but the individual as a whole. Try the internal cleansing therapy where a specialised body massage with warm herbal oils eliminates toxins from the body and helps you build immunity. Let the pitter-patter of raindrops add music to your therapy sessions. And then take a hot, medicated steam bath and be rejuvenated body and soul!

To know more feel free to call us at 09895702993 or send a mail at doctor@thekeralaayurveda.com. Click here for great vacation deals.

Sun, sand and serendipity: rediscover nature at the ABAD Turtle Beach Resort

A blue-green sea, azure skies, a sandy white beach, a soothing breeze. Add to that some splendid hospitality and you have an enticing beach holiday! Head to Abad’s Turtle Beach Resort at Mararikulam, Kerala, for some terrific vacation deals and the best beach holiday experience.

Whether you are travelling with kids or alone, this beach retreat is just right for you. Spread across 13 acres, the resort, which is far from the city yet only a few kilometres off NH47, has three beach villas and 22 twin-sharing beach cottages, all set far from each other and ensconced in their own greenery.

The landscape is also dotted with natural ponds, shady trees and the highlight—a rivulet on one side and the sea on the other.This beach retreat is all things ethnic, with motifs all over the place. The most picturesque is the paved walkways dotted with terracotta lamp-posts.

The interiors, meanwhile, are plush, modern and comfortable. All the rooms have individual patios, where you can enjoy a cool, breezy evening with a book, a dream or a deck of cards. “The rooms are very nicely done,” says Simon, a guest at the resort. A Briton who works in the tourism sector, Simon is quite happy with the facilities at Turtle Beach. “It has a very relaxed ambience and I find it quite enjoyable,” he says.

Those travelling with kids can head off to the beach for a swim, a stroll or some shells to collect. Or get the kids to bug a crab out of its hole. If the sea doesn’t tire the kids out enough there is always the resort’s pool for more games and activities.Another attraction of the resort is its trees. “We tried to avoid cutting down trees while landscaping,” says resort manager Binoy Gopi.

And it has paid off! Like at the multi-cuisine restaurant, which has a traditional design which allows for lavish air circulation; the surrounding trees provide much relief from the sweltering heat typical of seaside towns. “Natural air conditioning,” says Binoy with a grin.

The resort has various vacation packages and deals sure to suit your needs. Click here for more details on the resort. Or go right ahead and avail our fantastic summer vacation packages!