My trip to Bekal was supposed to be just another family leisure trip. Go to a quiet, scenic place, eat to your heart's content, sleep till the hours get bored, and repeat. The trip, however, turned out quite differently in one aspect. And I have Taj to thank for that.
Traveling from Mumbai, we took a flight to Mangalore, which is the closest airport to Bekal. The drive from Mangalore to Bekal is a scenic, 4 hour, experience. The temperature usually ranges between 28 to 30 degrees during the day and 24 to 27 in the night.
The hospitality and warmth of Taj Bekal Resort & Spa is apparent from the moment you reach the main gate. We were greeted by a beaming guard at the main gate. At the lobby, we were received with sea shell necklaces, smiles, folded hands, welcome drinks, cold towels - the whole jazz. I basked in all the attention we were getting. To be honest, for a regular corporate stooge like me, the whole royalty treatment is a refreshing change of pace.
The resort has a distinct warmth and homeliness about it. Tiny things make all the difference. The furniture is spaced out to avoid crowding. And, the lobby opens up to a huge indoor koi pond (which somehow I found very relaxing).
The cobbled pathways through the resort are flanked by coconut trees and exotic flowers. Stone statues guard the corners....
The room was surprisingly large and, needless to say, very tastefully done up. The rear end of the room opened up into a yard that housed a massive, adorned swing. And a door from the yard led to the gardens and the backwaters.
Now here's what made the trip different for us. It kept us occupied! The resort is pretty well prepared to keep guests engaged throughout the stay. It's like an itinerary was made keeping in mind every type of guest. There's something for everyone. Here's a glimpse of the stuff that we enjoyed-
Kayaking
Archery
Flower Walk (They have tonnes of exotic flowers)
Bird Watching
Moonlight Rafting
Classical Dance Show
There's a lot more - paintball, water zorbing, fishing, river rafting, etc. The club house is a little boys dream - X Box, table tennis, pool, television, carrom, board games, darts - they have it all. For romantics, they organize the best water front candle light dinners money can buy.
The southern side of the resort opens up to a quiet stretch of the beach. Perfect for some quiet introspection.
If you have the time and inclination to step out of the resort, you can check out Bekal Fort. Th vast premises of the fort are kept surprisingly clean. Well maintained flower beds add some color and the panoramic view of the beach puts the finishing touches. It's a well maintained ruin, to sum it up. The resort even organizes a bike ride to the fort. Make sure to go in the afternoon, that way you can catch the sunset. By far, the best part of the fort.
For a quick 4 day trip, this was just the perfect balance of activities and leisure. I was really surprised that my panda family was actually game for all the stuff they had to offer. I'll credit it to the overall atmosphere and the wonderful hospitality.
Safe to say, there will be a next time....