Moored on a historic stretch of Cochin's famed harbour ,
The Brunton Boatyard Hotel was resurrected from the remains of a
Victorian shipyard. Today, it gives the modern traveller a unique
opportunity to dwell amidst the shadow plays of 19th century history.
For what is essentially a
small and intimate city hotel, The Brunton Boatyard possesses a
remarkable sense of scale, evident the moment you turn into the tiled
forecourt.
The lobby is a vault of sunlight and air, framed by arches and overhung
with punkahs - enormous, old-fashioned fans of Indo-Portuguese origin.
The hotel's nautical past
seems to follow you around. On one wall, old Dutch maps, on another, a
small navigation device, in the courtyard lawns, an ancient anchor. Walk
further, turn a corner, and you find yourself outside the Armory Bar.
Perhaps later, you could enjoy a sundowner here, with old Portuguese
breastplates and musketry for company.
A short
saunter down the corridor brings you to a little doorway. Pass through
and suddenly, the whole vista of Cochin harbour opens up beyond the
pool's inviting waters. This is the spot to read a boring historical
novel, work on your tan and watch the ships sail by, so close you can
almost reach out and touch them. Crane your neck a bit and you can spot
a serried rank of Cochin's famed fishing nets. They first made their
appearance in 1350 a.d. and their much-photographed preying-mantis
shapes form one of the city's most enduring images.
Also near the
pool is the hotel's jetty, and a word at the reception gets you a
variety of cruising options to choose from. The heritage of Cochin is
most evident around its enormous harbour, and this is a not-to-be-missed
experience .
Dining
The Brunton Boatyard Hotel is your chance to dine from, literally, a
melting pot. All the cultures that came to the Malabar Coast over three
centuries can be sampled in a single evening. For if they came to carry
away spice, they also brought a host of new culinary ideas, evolving
over the years into a fusion cuisine dating from centuries before the
term became fashionable.
To the basic melody of black pepper, ginger and cardamom, each group
that came to Kerala added a counterpoint of its own. The Portuguese came
to trade in spice, but left behind the ' Indian' red chili. The Syrian
Christians brought a variety of meat dishes, specially stews, that
co-incidentally, tasted fabulous with the local string hoppers. The Jews
found coriander both Kosher and delicious, so into the pot it went. And
Dutch puddings were found to benefit greatly from a spot of fresh
cinnamon.
At the History Restaurant, these cuisines have been given a new lease of
life, recreated faithfully each evening by chefs who did their research
in the best place possible - with the old families of Cochin.
Accommodation
All of the Brunton Boatyard Hotel's 22
rooms overlook the sea, and so, by happy circumstance, do the en-suite
bathrooms. Few pleasures rival a long hot soak in your tub of an
evening, watching the dolphins play tag with the trading ships of the
globe.Your super-rested muscles should then have just enough energy to
carry you to the quaint four poster bed that dominates your room. (A
little footstool has been thoughtfully provided to assist the process).
You can choose from regular rooms, or the stately Harbour suites, where
the appointments feature original colonial era artifacts.
... Room View...
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