My stay at The Raviz’shing Raviz Spa and Resort, Ashtamudi, Kollam, Kerala, India in collaboration with *Panache

Travelling alone is good for the Sole !!! Having always been a travel enthusiast, all my sojourns till date have been with my husband and sons, a family so reluctant to leave the comfortable confines of home, that I had to literally drag them along like baggage without wheels 😀

However, my recent foray into travel blogging took me on my first solo adventure in collaboration with Panache* and it was with a mixture of excitement and trepidation that I embarked on my holiday to the heavenly Raviz Spa and Resort, where else but in God’s own country.

And when Air India flies you on time to your destination with not a moment out of place, then it does bode well for your vacation 😀

The three day stay left me with so much to say, that I will divide my story into three parts, mainly to prevent lulling my readers into a slumber 😀

The first will be an overview of the resort, the second a description of the activities one can indulge in and thirdly the most important one of all … yes you guessed right – the cuisine !!!

The Raviz in Kollam can be accessed via flight to Tiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) the capital of Kerala. From here it is approximately a 2 hour drive across the 71 km to the resort and one can work out a pick up service with the hotel or hire local cabs or take a bus. The journey through the villages of Kerala in the AC vehicle, is made very comfortable by the excellent roads and is a very picturesque one ie of course if you are actually looking out of your window and not fixated on your phone, making your friends envious through your blow by blow account on social media posts 😀

Kollam is also connected by rail to many major cities and the resort is a bare 5 kms away from the railway station. In addition there are buses for those who are comfortable with this form of transport.

Kollam is one of the 14 districts of Kerala and used to be known as Quilon, in the olden days when one used to write with Quill’on paper 😀

Well not really that old, for the change of name actually happened in the early ’80s. And though a few old buildings and surprisingly the railway station too, still bear the name Quilon, for the most part, Kollam is what is officially used.

The Raviz Spa and Resort is a hidden gem, one that is partially concealed amongst the coconut palms that are so greatly representative of the Kerala landscape. Standing sentinel alongside the Ashtamudi Kayal (lake) with its red tiled roof peeking out over the palms, this enchanting hotel gazes upon stunning views of the water and the surrounding vegetation and one can easily spend their entire stay just gawking ceaselessly at the glorious expanse of blue and green.

Waterways both great and small, weave their network across the State of Kerala and the Ashtamudi is one of the largest water bodies that form the back waters. Ashta meaning eight and mudi meaning cone, this lake is named thus, due to its topographical resemblance to an octopus with its eight tentacles. This is also considered to be one of the cleanest and unspoilt backwaters of Kerala.

A 5 star property, this resort spans 5 acres and is a fine mix of the traditional and the modern with 35 rooms in the heritage wing and 54 in the modern Tower block. Those who want greater privacy, have the convenience of 2 private pool villas and heritage aficionados can pick from the two Tharavads (the Tharavad is an ancient traditional Kerala house that is built with an extravagant use of teak or rose wood and the ones here have actually been uprooted from their original location and replanted intact on the premises and enhanced with their own private pools too).

The heritage portion with its semi traditional décor, has a life sized boat filled with spices, docked right in the heart of the lobby … a symbol of the prestigious annual President’s Trophy boat race held on the lake. A huge chandelier sparkles over the lounge and gigantic Urulis (flattish bronze bowls) form the base of glass topped tables in the seating area.

Ancient hand held fans called Visiris have been ingeniously strung on mechanical contraptions and rotate languidly and mesmerizingly, powered only by the cool breeze that caresses the lobby at all times and one can spend an inordinate amount of time just staring hypnotized by the circular motion. An iron lamp as large as a young Christmas tree, stands at the back from where one can step out onto the bank of the lake.

The Tower block has a large convention center and banquet halls that are suited for private and corporate events and is also a popular location for wedding receptions.

The Spa on the topmost floor boasts of a qualified ayurvedic doctor and staff that are well versed in the art of traditional Kerala oil massage. One can also avail of Spa and stay packages where the lovely doctor herself will chart out a diet plan and therapy according to individual conditions.

The rooftop offers breathtaking panoramic views and one realizes the aptness of the epithet God’s Own Country that has been conferred to this State, for it takes a lot of will power to tear oneself away from the heavenly terrace and descend back to earth !!!

Out on the water, three houseboats lie gently anchored at the banks. The one named Ranthaal serves as a floating restaurant that is accessed via a charming wooden pier. The two other boats wait patiently to carry away the hotel guests on their complimentary evening cruise.

Apart from an area marked out for indoor games and a gym, the other forms of outdoor entertainment on the relatively compact premises, are the well maintained swimming pool, a little children’s pool and a badminton court. A hammock and a rustic swing complete the lazy picture.

My early morning 70 minute flight from Bangalore to Trivandrum, brought me to my final destination around mid morning.

As I entered the long corridor past the statues of the 2 Kathakali dancers and the koi pond, I was given a warm Shellcome (a welcome with a necklace of shells 😀 ) and a large, heavy tender coconut was placed in my hands. Someone helpfully carried this alongside for me, while I was shown to my room.

I stayed in the Heritage portion, which was a smart move since this block also houses the restaurant Keraleeyam and we all know how important it is to be close to your food 😀

The  rooms are functional with the usual fridge and TV and the décor includes a large colorful traditional mural on the wall above the bed. While there is nothing really outstanding about the interiors, what really grabs your attention is the spectacular view from the large window. The picture created by the swimming pool, the swaying palms and the placid blue of the lake dotted occasionally by a passing boat, is enough to transport one to paradise !!!

And that cozy couch that hugs the window sill, entices you to renounce the world and surrender to the indulgence of gazing endlessly at the scenery and one is tempted to sit by its side and never ever leave.

But leave you must, for there is much to do and see, both in-house and away.

The resort is about 4 kms away from the main part of town and one would need to avail the services of the travel desk or walk up the 350 meters to the main road and find some form of public transport in order to go sight seeing, shopping or eating out locally.

The hotel also arranges outings to nearby places of interest.

The staff is extremely eager to please and attentive without being intrusive and while they are well trained, there is a also a certain homeliness about them that I found endearing.

The resort has a lot of potential in terms of what it can offer and I was told that they have many interesting future plans that will make the destination even more attractive to the traveller who is seeking a diverse mix of tradition, comfort, quiet and adventure !!!

This is not a regular typical action packed destination with the hustle and bustle of noisy crowds but a place where one can enjoy a holiday in the true sense of the word … a place to unwind and relax, while offering possibilities of gentle entertainment at the same time.

This is an ideal place for honeymooning couples and solo travellers and even groups of friends.

Artists, bird watchers and photographers will strike pure gold here as there is so much exquisiteness to capture.

This is also a good place for water sports enthusiasts since there are many water based activities that would interest them. And of course it is well suited for corporate events too.

While I personally think that this place a tad too peaceful for children, it could nevertheless attract families who are looking to have a tranquil stay with a choice of going with the various other options that the travel desk has put together.

Since my stay was limited to less than 3 days, I opted to visit a few places of my interest and the combination of these short trips and the hospitality of The Raviz, made this a vacation to remember. And it was with much difficulty that I tore myself away from this paradise, to return home back to earth.

Up next – Raviz Ashtamudi Part 2 – Things to do

Pl note – This trip was made in collaboration with Panache and The Raviz, Ashtamudi. The narration is based on my own personal experiences.

If you want to weave in the Raviz in between your Kerala experience or design your own dream trip, Panache can be contacted at info@panacheworld.com

*Calling Panache a travel agency or even a travel consultancy, will not do it justice. The experiences that they passionately curate to lands less explored, would urge me to label them a Travel Styling or Travel Design company.

I was privileged to debut my travel blogging adventures under their wing and I hope to continue forth with them as they discover newer trails to be traversed and more secret destinations to unearth … with a Dash of Panache and style !!!

Jul 24th-26th, 2017

For more pictures see My Facebook – Raviz Ashtamudi-Part 1-An overview