By Sudha Mathew

Yay! I am happy to share my contribution to the latest edition of Insider Secrets on the Unique Honeymoons website.  Take a look and drop me a line if you liked it or want more info on the places.

Unique Honeymoons is  a UK based magazine dedicated to helping people have the best honeymoon possible.

 

Honeymoon Secrets: Seek&Hide’s India

To help you plan a unique honeymoon, Sudha Mathew from ‘Seek and Hide’ shares her Insider Secrets for Goa, Kerala, Chennai and Bangalore

India has so much on offer for honeymooners that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Beautiful beaches? Check. Delicious food? Tick. History, shopping, culture, wildlife, and gorgeous hideaway hotels? Yes, yes and yes again! So with so much choice, here are five tips for Goa, Kerala, Chennai and Bangalore from India expert Sudha Mathew, director of ‘Seek and Hide‘, to help get your unique honeymoon planning underway.

 

Grasshopper in Bangalore

Shh… Subtle and innovative European style food is served at Grasshopper – a five-table “reservations only” restaurant within a farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. It’s just an hour away from the centre of town but worlds apart. The kitchen’s inventive chef sets his seven-course menu every morning as per the produce he picks that day. Juicy prawns, innovative amuse bouches and lemongrass ice cream are favorites on the menu. I suggest a romantic candlelight dinner.

Tell me more… Call +91-80-2659 3999 for reservations or visit the website for more info

 

Velha Goa in Panjim, Goa

Shh… Velha Goa is a cute little shop that deals in hand made decorative items made of glass and ceramic. My favorite things there are the azulejos. I got a hand painted one with our names on in the traditional Goan blue colour to put on our door. Tres romantic! But be warned they need about two weeks so place an order as soon as you land in Goa. It’s not very far from the airport.

Tell me more… No time to lose? Pick up a hand-painted Goa souvenir instead.

 

Marari Beach near Alleppey, Kerala

Shh… The beach is a lovely white clean stretch that is less touristy than most other Kerala beaches.  But instead of hanging out at the main part of the beach, if you walk till the end then suddenly there’s a stretch that is quiet with a freshwater pond in the middle of the sand. Simply gorgeous.

Tell me more… Take a picnic as there is usually nothing else at this end except the two of you.

 

Querim Beach, Goa

Shh… Querim Beach in far north Goa (after Arambol beach) is one of the quietest and least known beaches in Goa with a few sun beds and beach shacks. If you go out of season, you may be lucky enough to have it on your own. Not recommended for swimming as the currents are unreliable and strong but perfect for a quiet day of sunbathing, reading and relaxing.

Tell me more… You can also hop on the ferry to Fort Tiracol for a short ride and have a lunch with a panoramic view at the hip heritage hotel.

 

Annalakshmi, Chennai

Shh… Annalakshmi is a quaint restaurant in Chennai on Anna Salai that serves authentic vegetarian Tamil cuisine with a difference. The entire restaurant is staffed and managed by volunteers who are devotees of Swami Shantanand Saraswathi. The sumptuous meals are served on silver plates with silver cutlery and the decor is that of a traditional home with idols and flower garlands.

Tell me more… Warm your hearts as you fill your stomachs – part of the bill goes towards charity.

 

More about the experts:

Sudha is the director of Seek&Hide. As she says: “From beach-houses in Goa to your own private island, at Seek&Hide we hand-pick our properties so that each property is a hidden treasure. Our current repertoire is focused on India and offers you the chance to explore the area’s culture, heritage and cuisine at your own pace.

“We aim to deliver an unforgettable stay that you would love to experience again and help you find the perfect destination choice that you seek, amid all that is hidden; a little piece of heaven to call your own for a few days.”

Visit the website, email reservations@seekandhide.in or call +91 96638 64444

This article was originally published in Unique Honeymoons.

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Have a good weekend!

Sudha