The Hindu Business Line : Wonder-lust!

Healing trails: Resorts such as (from top to bottom) SwaSwara, Bangaram and Kalari Kovilakom offer tourists a combination of tasteful decor and frugal lifestyle in place of pampering luxury.

C.J. Punnathara

Moving away from pampering and luxury, experiential global travellers are now seeking out the self-imposed restrictions imposed by discerning tourist resorts, where tasteful décor and frugal lifestyle are the norm. The new-generation alert independent traveller is no longer lured by pretty picture-postcard destinations alone. Instead, he yearns for invigorating ‘cerebral and spiritual’ experiences. This metamorphosis is, in turn, rewriting the rules of gue st-host relationships in the hospitality industry.

Physical comfort and mental peace do not always coexist. So, more and more tourists appear willing to forego physical pleasures and comforts to find that elusive peace. The CGH Earth Group was among the earliest to understand, encourage and nurture the changing demands of the global traveller. “We came up with the concept of less is more, where you provide less in physical comfort and luxuries, and more in terms of attaining mental peace and tranquillity,” says Jose Dominic, Managing Director of the CGH Earth group of hotels and resorts. The iconic resorts based on ayurveda, yoga, environment, fishermen and tribal concepts have become major success stories. But it was chance rather than choice which inspired the company to come up with this unique concept.

When the group began work on the exclusive Bangaram Beach Resort in Lakshadweep islands, it was confronted with a unique problem. There was no electricity on the island and they could use only diesel generation sets for their energy needs. Conscious of the pristine coral island environment, they were not keen on generating excessive energy. So they decided to do away with air-conditioning altogether. “When we extended the decision to do away with television, telephone, radio or newspapers, the first avatar of ‘less is more’ was born,” Dominic recalls.

And the denial of these seemingly basic prerequisites of modern life came at a stiff price. Despite the resort charging one of the highest tariffs of those times, visitors flocked to it for a break from the hectic pace of everyday life, to live in total isolation and find sanctuary in the sea, sand and surf. The holiday by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his family at this sanctuary gave it a national prominence.

In recent times, the Kalari Kovilakom and SwaSwara have tapped into a similar concept. At Kalari Kovilakom, visitors are not permitted to wear footwear inside the premises. The place is strictly vegetarian and no alcohol is served. Your wish is no longer the hotelier’s command.

The rules are set by the hotelier and the tourists appear more than happy to obey. Except, perhaps, in some cases.

“We had this first-time visitor who stayed with his family in one of our resorts and found there was no television in his room. Furious, he wrote a stinging remark: ‘We want television in our rooms and leave the decision of switching it on or off to the guests’,” Dominic recalls. At the next resort too he found no television. But the sting had gone out of his comment when he wrote: “My wife might have missed her favourite soap opera. But the whole family watched, in awe, the real-life metamorphosis as miniscule grey eggs hidden beneath decrepit leaves transformed into brilliantly coloured butterflies at the resort’s butterfly garden. After a gap of several years we could spend quality time with our son. In the quiet ambience of the resort we could reach out to him like we have never done before. I guess we have found time for ourselves away from the incessant chatter of the idiot box.”

All the CGH Earth resorts are based on unique themes and motifs. At the Spice Village in the Periyar Tiger Reserve it is the tribal motif. Kalari Kovilakom is an ayurvedic resort set up in a former palace with a rustic backdrop. Ayurveda does not encourage consumption of meat or alcohol and these “body toxins” are banned at its premises. While the motif of Kalari Kovilakom is physical and mental rediscovery, it is yoga, meditation and the pursuit of inner peace that is proffered by SwaSwara.

Travel in the 21st century is no longer just an indulgence of the physical senses but also a cerebral and spiritual experience. “Finding one’s inner self and seeking peace is becoming more the norm through carbon-neutral holiday experiences of yoga, meditation and ayurveda,” Dominic says. Small wonder then that the same visitors flock to these iconic resorts year after year, seeking unique and novel experiences each time.

Related Stories:
Unique destinations, specialty resorts shrug off recession
CGH Earth to consolidate in South

More Stories on : Resorts & Amusement Parks | Tourism

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
A food odyssey

30-day fitness plan

No slowdown for the big day

The marriage parties

Omani brides hire special planners

Wonder-lust!

In memoriam

This magic is for real