Marari Beach is one of the loveliest spots in Kerala. It’s located in the ancient fishing village of Mararikulam about one hour south of Kochi in Kerala’s Alappuzha District. The coastal life creates the culture here.
The Fishers
Fishers still launch their brightly painted wooden boats from these shores in the wee hours each morning. They dive into the surf alongside their boats. Their muscles ripple with strength they’ve built from years of sewing together a life between land and sea.
When on shore, some cast nets throughout the day. Others sit crossed-legged chatting in a steady stream of Malayalam as they mend nets. Their bare legs don’t seem to feel the hot sand.
They wear bright turbans to keep the sun off their head and the sweat off their brow. Loose cotton shirts and short dhotis are their uniform. The dhoti is a single piece of cloth. It is wrapped around the waist. It can be worn long for walking or tucked in like shorts for working. Faded from a life in the sun, the dhotis were once as bright as the surrounding tropical flora and fauna.
The fishers are a tight knit community. After the day’s catch, they once again work together. Riding the inbound surf, they jump off, and heave their laden boats ashore. They work in rhythm with the breaking waves.
Those waves chase each other on to the beach from across the vast Arabian Sea. Over millennia, they’ve beat this beach to a fine, soft blanket of golden sand. Sitting to watch a sunset, the warmth of that sand permeates the traveller’s weary bones. It eases them into life here.
Looking north and south, the beach seems to stretch the entire Malabar Coast. It’s clean and uncrowded. A parade of tall coconut palms sway with the breeze in the background. Leaving the beach, a path leads into the CGH Marari Beach Resort. This is our favourite place to stay in this area.
CGH Marari Beach
At the Beach Shack, guests can watch the sunset while sipping a drink and savouring wood-fired flatbread. We’ve relished the dishes of the weekly fish barbecue night. And, this spot also hosts nightly cooking classes specializing in coastal cuisine.
Further back on the property, there’s a yoga shanti and a full-service Ayurvedic Spa complete with consulting physicians. Some of the thatched roof cabins have their own splash pools and most have private outdoor showers. The separation between humans and nature is a thinner line here.
Near the reception, a broad lawn leads to the pool area. The water is cool and rejuvenating, an antidote to the tropical heat. The lawn is also the gathering place for afternoon chai and snacks at 4 p.m. daily.
In the evening, there are a few dinner options. Chakara is the main restaurant. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and a dinner buffet. Watch for local specialties. You might find Chemeen Manga Curry (prawn and mango curry). Koon Palpizhinjathu (Mushrooms in coconut milk) and Vazhuthananga Mezhukkuvaratti (dry eggplant masala) are true favourites. And, Kozhi Kurumulagu Roast (black pepper roasted chicken) is another signature dish.
The culinary team also offers a farm to table experience. It’s interactive. Guests get to harvest the vegetables, herbs, and fruits they’ll enjoy directly from the hotel’s onsite organic farm/garden. Then, they discuss the dishes the chef will prepare. Finally, they sit at the counter as the chef cooks.
The village of Mararikulam is a place to wander and check out small shops and restaurants. The Mararikulam Mahadeva Temple is nearby. You can also kayak or book a houseboat excursion through the backwaters of Allepey.
Rejuvenation
We usually visit Marari Beach at the end of a few weeks of exploring South India. This is our place to chill and to rejuvenate. We find once we’ve slipped into the rhythm of life at Marari Beach, it’s hard to leave. We love the choices a day presents.
Will you start the day with a morning yoga class or choose an Ayurvedic treatment? You can take a dip in the Arabian Sea or read a book in a hammock under a coconut palm. Late afternoon, you can enjoy tea time and savour a dinner of the freshest food imaginable. To stay at Marari is a chance to take in the essence of life.
Gratitude
Thank you to chef Thomas and the team at CGH Marari Beach. We appreciate their time and interest in our project. And we also appreciate chef sharing the recipes we’ll post very soon.
This stay was not sponsored. It was part of Karen’s work as a tour operator with Alberta Food Tours.
All words and photos are our own and were not shared with the sponsors before publication. We sincerely hope you’ll venture forth and experience all these wonderful Faces, Places, and Plates for yourself! – Karen and Pauli-Ann.