Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more. It is an authentic experience of the world of Kerala's traditional fishing villages and recreation of an ancient harmonious way of life.

Marari Beach sprawls across 55 acres of lawns, far-flung lotus ponds and whispering coconut groves, all threaded through with stone- flagged pathways. A windbreak of palms runs the length of the property, a protective cover that reduces even the gustiest sea winds to mere caresses. And beyond is a milk-and-azure ocean, fringed by a beach more ochre than yellow, a sand-meets-sea combination you're not likely to find anywhere else.

Modelled on the fishermen's' dwellings of Mararikulam, your accommodations are a fine balance between traditional form and modern function. The roof is palm thatch, but we've added a concrete base that keeps the air-conditioning in and the odd insect out. Bathrooms too, combine modern fixtures with the traditional Kerala open-roofed style. And the little taps outside each cottage are another local touch. The fisher folk use them to clean the sand off their feet, and you can do likewise. Barefoot is a great way to be at Marari Beach, even indoors!

Cottages like the one we've just described form the standard accommodation , but if you favour more private luxuries, maybe you'd like to pick one of our pool villa cottages, which are suite-style and have a secluded walled courtyard with a private pool all your own.

TASTING THE OCEAN

The secret of the tangy fish curries of this part of the world lies - literally - in the soil. For it is earthenware pots, placed on a slow wood fire and simmered, that give the food its unique texture and succulence.

At Marari Beach, you can enjoy the simple traditional dishes of the fisher folk (along with, of course, a variety of international cuisine favorites) at our verandah- style restaurant. Dinners are candlelit; often with live music (the traditional Kerala trio comprises a harmonium, flute and tablas). And the beachside features an evening grill serving up some select seafood, always fresh, always seasonal.

The focus at Marari is on Kerala cuisine, though we serve up a range of international favorites too.
Seafood is always seasonal varieties, based on the fresh catch of the day. Another favorite is the fisherman's curries, simmered in clay pots, and served up with a traditional leaf spoon.

NATURE HIGHS

The bar at Marari is in a beautiful 200-year old building, deep in a thicket of trees and lotus ponds. Enjoy a 'Panchamrutam' (a heady local concoction) in the midst of colonial -style spaces and serenity. If you can't tear yourself away from the beach, you can get a tall cold one down there too, at the Beach Shack.

THINGS TO DO

·Do nothing on the beach, take long walks or bicycle rides. Marari wasn't designed for doing but just the opposite.

· But you should definitely take time out to stroll down to the village and explore.

· There are regular cookery classes most evenings, so you can learn and enjoy Kerala cuisine even when you go back home.

· There's a full size pool, beach volleyball and tennis for the more active. Lots of books and stuff in the clubhouse too.

· Ayurvedic massages and Yoga classes will get you into a deeper state of relaxation then you thought possible.

AYURVEDA AND YOGA AT MARARI

Marari Beach has a fully equipped Ayurvedic centre, so you can get all the benefits of this ancient system of medicine. Put yourself in the hands of our expert masseuses and you'll feel reborn.

There are also regular yoga classes on the beach, in the thick of a cool coconut grove. The locale, we're told, does wonders for your inner serenity.

To an Ayurvedic masseur, giving a massage is a form of worship, and the centre at Marari reflects the spiritual nature of the treatments.

Expert doctors guide the process, and the result is a powerful healing system, the results of which you can measure for yourself, even after two or three sessions.

We have multiple therapy rooms and massage rooms offering the full range of treatments and massages, with qualified doctors to oversee it all.

They use selection of fresh herbs, many plucked from the medicinal herb garden just outside.

SEASON
· Jan - Mar: Cool and dry.
· April - May: Summer, warm certainly, but on the other hand, its perfect tanning weather.
· June - Aug: The monsoon months, with a drizzly, misty charm all their own. This is also the perfect time for Ayurvedic treatments.
· Sept - Dec: Pleasant and dry, usually the main tourist season.