The Residency Calicut

Coconut Bay 

Travancore Heritage

Coconut Lagoon

Marari Beach 

Spice Village - Nature Habitat - Periyar

Spice Village is in Kumily, a small settlement three kilometers from Thekkady, the main entrance to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The design of each cottage was inspired by the native tribesmen of Periyar, the Oorali and Mannan, who lived in similar dwellings. (In fact, one of the cottages currently being used as an office, is an original tribal hut which has been modified.) A number of creature comforts have been added, however, to make your stay a luxurious one.

The bathrooms, though, are reassuringly modern. Running hot water comes from our own solar panels, and in most rooms, you can soak away the rigours of a jungle trek in a luxurious bathtub.
You may want to pick one of the larger cottages that dot the resort. These have separate living rooms, and a restful, semi-private vista, complete with a little garden bench all one's own.


Take note too, of the little pieces of history that you'll find on your verandah. Some of those tables are over a 100 years old, their enameled side-panels and fretted woodwork a tribute to the master carpenters of the day. This is the perfect spot to relax, take a sip of green tea and release your senses to the winds.


Below you, the pool is a rippling blue patch, set in a scene abuzz with life. A kingfisher dives low out of a clear blue sky, hunting vainly for its fish lunch. Bees hum around Colombian coffee bushes. Guinea fowls and ducks chatter about (amazingly tame, because they're used to guests.) Bamboo bursts in tilting spires. Cascades of cinnamon, pepper and honeysuckle wash down the hillside. And everywhere, the structures of Spice Village peep out of the woods, as if growing naturally from the surroundings.

An Ayurvedic Holiday.
Spice village has the most comprehensive ayurvedic facilities in the Casino Group, and it's the site of our popular Ayurvedic packages.

Ayurveda is, of course, the ancient Indian science of wellness, now gaining a faithful following around the world. It's aim is to create harmony within, using combinations of medication, massage, diets and other treatments.

The basic principle of Ayurveda is that illness can be prevented if balance in body, mind and spirit is maintained. A combination of three principal energies, or Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) determines what type of body you have and impacts on your physical and mental wellbeing.

Curious to know more? There are a variety of books on the subject at our gift shop. Of course, one of our qualified ayuvedic doctors will be the best guide in your journeys into wellness.

In fact, spend a little time with one of our 'vaidyars', and your entire view of Spice Village will transform. Suddenly, it's as if you're living in Nature's own pharmacy. For all over the grounds is the stuff of life and healing. These carefully labeled medicinal plants can turn your evening stroll into an education.

Perhaps the best first-hand introduction to ayurveda comes from the magic hands of a masseur. If you aren't with us long enough to enjoy a full course of treatment, try an invigorating leaf-bundle massage, or one of the general oil massages. You'll soon see the difference in your well-being and energy levels.


The Taste of Fresh Spice
Mealtimes at Spice Village are an unhurried affair. In fact, we urge you to dawdle. Eat too quickly, and you miss the subtle nuances that spices take on when they're absolutely fresh. Rush through your meal and you give yourself no chance to enjoy the amiable atmosphere that's common to all our dining areas.

There are three of these. Choose from the rustic wooden tables in the dining hall proper, or take a heaped plate out to the long verandah and enjoy your meal al fresco, watching the kingfishers flit around the swimming pool.

Besides these. literally, is the historic Tiffin Room, where light snacks are served all day. The rosewood chairs and tables here are restored antiques, from a 100-year old restaurant in the next valley that sadly closed its doors in 1995. Spice Village's popular cookery classes for guests are also conducted here, most evenings, and you can pick up some tips while chef Velayuthan unveils a few (but only a few) of his secrets.

Itinerary For 5 Night 6 Days Package

DAY ONE

On arrival at the Cochin International Airport or at Madurai domestic airport. meet and transfer to Periyar. Check-in at Spice Village.

Day at leisure.

Boat Safari at Lake Periyar in the evening.

Overnight at Spice Village.

DAY TWO

Early morning wake-up call to participate in the Bullock Cart ride at 0600 hours.

Visit vineyards, diverse agriculture crops of mangoes, tamarind, onion, sunflower, jasmine and a score of other vegetables. The ride will take your breath away when the guide starts to interpret how farming has wooven delicately with the culture and the life of the natives.

This is conducted by a group of people who were engaged in sandalwood smuggling, later surrendered before the Forest Department. The profit from the programme goes to rehabilitate this group of people.

Breakfast served enroute.

Programme ends at Spice Village at 1400 hours with lunch at the resort.

Afternoon at leisure.

Overnight at Spice Village.

DAY THREE

After early breakfast in the Hotel, depart at 0800 hours to participate in the Border Hiking programme.

This full day programme is a conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day.

The route passes through undulating terrains, attitudinal ranges of 900 meters to 1300 meters will be covered and the trekkers would glimpse the lofty escarpments bordering the park, watershed and the vast plains down below.

Gaur, sloth bear, elephant etc. are being often sighted along this route apart from birds and butterflies.

Trekkers will go with tour guides and an armed forest guard. Vegetarian refreshments will be served enroute.

Overnight at Spice Village.

DAY FOUR

Yet another day of adventure. This time in the Periyar Lake. Bamboo rafting at a dawn to dusk range. Hiking and rafting programme through some of the richest forest tracks of Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Starting at 0800 hours from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos.

The rafting is for about 3 hours and one gets a panoramic view of the forest – clad hills reflect on the lake.

Animals like elephant, gaurs and samba are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake.

The team hitchhikes back to the boat landing by about 1700 hours. An armed guard and a guide will accompany the group.

DAY FIVE

After breakfast, transfer to Cochin. Enroute stopover at the Plantation House for lunch. This gives an opportunity to see the rubber plantation and the rubber tapping.

Check-in at Brunton Boatyard situated at the harbour mouth of the sea.
Afternoon free for sightseeing and cruise through the backwaters of Cochin and the harbour. Overnight at Brunton Boatyard.

DAY SIX

It’s time to bid farewell. Transfer to Cochin International Airport/Railway Station.

Cottage Inner View