Neeleshwar Hermitage is the only boutique hotel on the unspoiled coast of Malabar, Northern Kerala. A stylish and relaxed retreat, it is a blend of traditional idiom and modern comfort. The sophisticated accommodation comprises eighteen traditionally thatched cottages. Each bedroom is large, light, and airy, with wooden floors and locally hand-made furniture and decorated with a mix of antique and contemporary works of art. Each bedroom has its own attached garden bathroom fashioned in granite and wood with state-of-the-art fittings.
Set within a 12-acre palm grove along the edge of a pristine and tranquil beach that stretches for miles in either direction. The Hermitage has an extremely peaceful atmosphere. It is an oasis of eco-
friendly practice: natural waste is recycled, kitchen waste provides biogas for cooking, and only local materials and traditional designs were used in the stunningly crafted buildings. The hotel has a ‘no plastic’ policy so all water is purified on-site by the most modern method of ‘reverse osmosis’ to avoid using plastic bottles. Maximum use has been made of local materials and artisan skills in the buildings, while the staff is mostly drawn from the local community and the hotel is active in promoting local ecological concerns, such as the preservation of the endangered Olive Ridley turtle.
The Hermitage offers its guests a wide variety of Ayurvedic and spa treatments, as well as yoga and meditation classes and a stunning infinity pool. A unique feature is its program of evening talks on Indian culture by an ex-British Museum expert. Cookery classes are available here as well as local sightseeing to markets, temples and ashrams, and also forest treks and cruises through the unvisited backwaters. Bicycles are freely available for trips out.
Here, you can really feel at one with nature as the grounds have been designed so as to encourage varied birdlife into the resort, and in spring the beach is host to spectacular displays of migrating birds. Altogether, The Hermitage is a refined and tranquil haven for discriminating clientele.
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