OT Favourite hotel in the world
Zohra Sehgal I have visited so many in all these years &mdash I still remember a hotel in Bali which I visited in 1938. It was a beach resort with crabs running about everywhere the waiters were lovely, wearing hibiscus behind their ears. I remember the native women, beautiful and bare-breasted. But it was so long ago, I can't remember the name of the hotel... But in recent years, my favourite hotel experience was at The Marari Beach resort in Kerala.
OT When did you visit
Zohra Sehgal It was three years ago, in 2004, when I had the opportunity to make this exciting trip. I was shooting for the film The Mistress of Spices, directed by Paul Mayeda Berges, and I was put up at this resort in a village called Mararikulam near Kochi.
OT  The experience
Zohra Sehgal It was delightful. The hotel is a quaint and exclusive one which combined old world charm with all modern facilities and infrastructure. One thing which impressed me a lot was the hot Kerala food which I still remember. The hotel rooms were large and ethnically designed, with a lily pond just outside the bedroom window. The bathrooms were large and airy and had a small open wing where you could bathe and sunbathe in complete privacy
OT  The food
Zohra Sehgal I am fond of South Indian food. I like the chutneys very much, especially the one made from coconut and pungent red chillies, which greatly helped my long-standing digestive problems.
OT Repeat visit
Zohra Sehgal Any day
The information
Location Mararikulam North P.O., Alleppey, Kerala
Accommodation 49 garden villas, 10 garden pool villas and three deluxe pool villa
Tariff Rs 8,500 (garden villa), Rs 10,700 (garden pool villa), Rs 13,000 (deluxe pool villa). Includes  All meals. Valid till Sept 30.Contact 0484-2668221, www.cghearth.com