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"It was tourism, opportunities and business that brought me to Kerala" says Rupert Evers founder of Marari Villas, which offer boutique serviced villas and cottages on the beautiful Marari Beach in central Kerala. Formerly an architect in England, Rupert visited Kerala some seven years ago as a tourist. "But the beauty and charisma of the unspoiled Marari Beach changed my life," confesses Evers. He decided to start a resort there with his wife Olga Ostapenko.
According to Rupert, Kerala has different ingredients that make her so attractive and enticing. The nature itself, with the wildlife, hill stations, beaches and backwaters, is so alluring. You cannot expect this much variety in such a little geography. "The land is really irresistible. It's a mix of colours and cultures. Similar to this is the diversity in religions and religious festivals of Kerala. The colourful festivals of Kerala give an altogether different experience. The peaceful co-existence of several religions is wonderful," observes Evers.
"Compared to other destinations in India, Kerala is cleaner and safer. The people are warm, welcoming and well-educated. It is very much easy to communicate with them. The food of Kerala is also tempting. We love all types of Kerala food. Of course, the seafood needs special mention," opines Rupert.
"Since we love all these quintessential features of Kerala, we have tried our best to maintain them in our villas. The villas are specially designed to give you a true experience of Kerala architecture with all the modern comforts. Our attempt is to promote the culture and tradition of this land. Our staffs are from local populace. We also provide opportunities for our guests to interact with the local people and their culture. We help them to enjoy a variety of activities at Marari Beach and in other parts of Kerala. You can have an elephant ride, play volleyball with the locals at the beach, take classes in Kerala cuisine, participate in charity programs and voluntary works," says an excited Rupert.