The Lotus

What to Expect Onboard?

With two deluxe bedrooms and their en suite bathrooms, light and airy with cheerful colours, they have a large glass observation window with insect-proof screen, locally made wooden furniture, ethnic durrie rugs and paintings by a Kerala artist in the traditional temple mural style, as well as an iPod docking system, safe and hair-dryer. Guests have the option of a fan or state of the art air-conditioning.

Outside each room has its own private sit out for those sunset moments. There is a private sun-deck with comfortable sun loungers and an alfresco dining area, and a spacious indoor sitting and dining room.  Ayurveda massage and yoga sessions available on request whilst onboard.  Your private crew consisting of resident Captain, personal chef and housekeeper have their own room and bathroom.

Facilities

• Indoor sitting room
• Bar
• Modern Kitchen
• Large sun deck
• Bicycles

Daily Life on the River

Expect daily excursions to local villages, markets and temples. Get away from the busy waterways near Alleppey and Cochin and explore the languid backwaters of Malabar – an undiscovered gem of a backwater. These backwaters remain totally unexploited and guests are unlikely to encounter virtually any other boats.

On the water people fish, work and punt their narrow dugout boats with tall poles, whilst boatmen carry loads of coir, copra and cashews. They comprise a myriad network of canals and lagoons, at times only a few yards inland from the sea, and stretching for miles.

How to Reach the Lotus?

There is no better way to explore Kerala and its hidden secrets of the waterways than by boat. The Lotus offers one or two night cruises with part of each day spent gently cruising and the rest of it ashore, visiting otherwise unreachable temples, villages and local cottage industries. The Lotus is based near Nileshwar- two or three hours north of Mangalore and reached by train or domestic flight.