Kadambavanam Resort, Alagar Hills

When it comes to vacations, resorts are probably the first option that the tourists look at to unwind and have a relaxing time in the lap of luxury. Standing far in the outskirts of towns and cities, although these properties do offer a sense of serenity in the wake of the verdure they are surrounded by, most of the places fail to capture the essence of the cities’ tourist attractions. Even cities with rich cultural heritage like Madurai suffer from the same fate, having beautiful resorts built along the sidelines but none actually potraying the celebrated history that the temple city unfolds. Kadambavanam however, is a one-of-a-kind place which is trying to break the wheel, showcasing the vibrant culture and traditions of the Tamil region.

Being relatively insulated from the external influences and invasions, the region in itself evolved both in terms of technology and culture – something that Kadambavanam has made their sole aim to preserve and perpetuate to the traveling patrons through a comprehensive set of activities. Located in the sea of natural serenity, the resort is enveloped in surrounding mountain ranges, embellished with an alluring array of mango and coconut groves all across. The place holds dainty village style cottages for accommodation, each of which is themed after a Tamil great. My personal stay here was quite a comfortable one – thanks to the cozy beds and linen with all amenities provided, along with an open air shower which was totally a cherry on top.

Their in-house restaurant too is something to look forward to, having chefs perfectly adept of recreating those local Tamil delicacies from the seasonal produce available. Dining in for a quick lunch, I got to experience a traditional Tamil feast served on a banana leaf and having my own hands as my spoons and forks. On the menu were multiple local delights including the hot regional favourites, Mutton Chukka – dry preparation of goat chunks loaded with pepper and chili and Natu Kodi Varuval – subtle yet meaty country chicken curry preparation along with some dishes which even I heard for the first time.

My personal favourites included the Muttai Paniyaram which was an egg dish created in a specialized traditional vessel, Uppu Kari Soru which had a decent mutton gravy mixed in with rice and lastly the Eral Varual having juicy, plump prawns in a spicy sauce. Finishing the meal were the seasonal summer fruits from the city, which included Mango and Jackfruit along with Bananas which were made into a delectable chutney, perfect to cool things down in this hot weather.

Apart from the conventional workshops and lectures about the philosophy and civilization, Kadambavanam whets the appetite of the tourist thorough various other activities including walks to the nearby villages, cultural programmes as well as Yoga session. They are planning to soon finish constructing their health center which shall be the home of the usual resort frills of sauna, massage and jacuzi along with the additional naturopathy treatments of mud therapy, helio therapy, etc, all decored in the same rustic style as the rest of the resort. All in all, Kadambavanam truly does justice to its name of “Temple of Tradition” and is a worthwhile spot for all the globetrotters who would want to dive deep in the heritage and delve in the rich cultural roots of the region.

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