Experiences of Community

We believe that we can learn much from the local communities where we operate. After all, they have lived harmoniously with the environment for many centuries. And so we adopted the construction methods of the Ooralie tribe of Periyar and the fishermen of Mararikulum and made them our own.  We borrowed the recipes of the local communities using locally grown ingredients and refined them, helping you experience the joys of tasty, wholesome food that is unique to the region. And we didn’t forget our obligation to give back. At all our resorts we have endeavored to employ people from the local community, be it the naturalist who guides you through the wilderness or the therapist who rejuvenates your mind and body. We instituted community based programmes that helped rehabilitate poachers and smugglers. Local tribes were taught organic farming techniques, which helped them to prosper and preserve their way of life. Its been our privilege to give back a little, where we have gained so much.

Experiences of Heritage

Our culture teaches us respect for our elders. This translates into a respect for our past and our heritage too. All our hotels have adopted the local culture and way of life. Paying homage to traditional modes of living.  The transplanted Kerala tharavads at Coconut Lagoon were restored by hand, in a process that took years, bringing to life Kerala's gracious mansions of old. At Brunton Boatyard you will experience the varied and rich histories of Fort Kochi in every aspect, from the interiors of the hotel to the cuisine. And Visalam is a celebration of the noble land of Chettinad. Heritage, we believe, is the ground beneath our feet, giving us roots in a changing world.

Experiences of Well-Being

A holiday is more than amusement. Reviving your mind, body and spirit is the point, and that can only come from within. We understand the importance of sending you home with your batteries totally charged. And so, most of our resorts have Ayurveda, yoga and meditation centers, where you can benefit from these ancient sciences.

Ayurvedic massages by experienced therapists will revitalize you physically. Other therapies will cleanse your mind and spirit, draining you of the negative energies induced by the stress of modern-day living. At Kalari Kavilakom you can experience the full range of Ayurveda’s benefits, right down to the food you eat. Trained instructors initiate you into the ancient practices of yoga and meditation, also helping you to renew all aspects of your being. This is the true pilgrimage. The pilgrimage of the self. 

The Smile of Tradition

We know that on holiday, everyone you meet is an intrinsic part of your experience. And so, just as our destinations reflect the land and the culture, so do the human beings you encounter. Most of our staff are local people, born and brought up in the neighborhood. So not only do they know the land and the culture intimately, they are deeply concerned about preserving them both. They undergo a simple, practical discipline that we’ve evolved ourselves. They learn from their seniors, in a manner that echoes India’s ancient ‘gurukul’ system. It, somehow, allows a naturally hospitable people to be their naturally hospitable selves.