Home on the River – Kottayam
Description
Located on the banks of the Meenachil river in Kerala, just two hours down the road from Kochi lies our Unhotel – Home on the River. This 200-year old mansion has rooms with terracotta floors and a large open courtyard that leads to the river. Guests can go fishing, stay on a houseboat, cycle through pristine locales of Kottayam and relish some Syrian Christian cuisine.
Life Along the Riverside
Far away from the maddening crowds of Kochi, right inside the small town of Kottayam is where peace and tranquility reside. This 200-year-old renovated mansion will transport you to an age where life was uncomplicated.
Take a walk in five acres of local produce including coffee, pepper, ginger, turmeric and nutmeg. Listen to the chirping of the birds, the rappling river, the murmur of the locals and the occasional barking of a dog. Feel at one with nature.
Stay
Home on the River has six extravagant AC rooms and one non-AC room with period architecture and furniture and an attached bath. Two extra rooms can be arranged at a partner resort nearby. Each room at this mansion has a terrace with beautiful views of the pristine backwaters.
Stays can also be organised on traditional Kerala kettuvallams (houseboats) along the river. And while they may look traditional, they are equipped with luxurious amenities aimed at pampering guests.
Food
Sample the best of Syrian Christian cuisine at this Unhotel. Delicacies include fish molee, tapioca, appam and stew, puttu, kadala, fresh seafood and red rice. It also serves some delicious continental and local south Indian fare.
You can also spend an evening with your hosts – the Kuriens, drinking chai and listening to local and family anecdotes – an experience that will truly add value to your stay.
Amenities/Facilities
Home on the River has an in house Ayurveda Center with a resident doctor and therapist who can offer not just a relaxing Ayurvedic massage but also provide treatments for a host of ailments using time tested techniques and Ayurvedic portions which have been handed down through generations. Guest can avail of this facility at extra charges.
Wifi is available in public areas at an extra charge per hour. Laundry service on additional charge. Airport shuttles are available on request.
Activities
Guests can get involved in a ton of activities here including going on plantation visits, river swimming, dugout canoe rides, fishing, houseboat rides and yoga sessions. Go on tours to Kottayam, India’s first 100% literate city. Visit beautiful churches, markets and temples.
For ornithologists and enthusiasts, the nearby Kumarakom Bird sanctuary will be paradise. Look out for waterfowls, egrets, water ducks, cuckoos, teal, herons, darters, cormorants and kingfishers. This land is home to more than 500 birds and 330 butterfly species, 37 of these endemic to the region.
WHAT’S UNHOTEL ABOUT IT
Nestled amidst the greenery of the Himalayas, this Unhotel aims to unburden the traveller with dreamy views of mountains as far as the eye can see, a bright blue unpolluted sky and a rustic, sleepy town vibe. All that a standard hotel experience cannot offer.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Ideal for the romantics, the writers, the poets, the artists. For those who’d love to pull themselves out of the harsh realities of life and cuddle up in the arms of the mountains. Perfect for those who need an escape with their furry friends.
WHO IS IT NOT FOR?
Not recommended for those looking for a cookie-cutter hotel experience. For those whose idea of a getaway is solely visiting famous sites. Also not for the pocket conscious traveller.
