Neeleshwar Hermitage Resort, Bekel South India

Neeleshwar Hermitage Resort, Bekel
Price Guide: £££
Location
Neeleshwar Hermitage Resort is hidden 15kms down the coast from the town of Bekel, in the extreme north of Kerala. This is a 130 kms (4 hour) journey from the Coorg district. The Hermitage is a beautiful beach resort 4 kms away from the Neeleshwar town, and almost reassuringly difficult to locate.
Introduction
The most northern regions of Kerala are surprisingly under-developed in terms of international tourism, so the Neeleshwar Hermitage represents the first steps in a state-encouraged move to maximise the potential of the area in a sustainable fashion. The resort was three years in construction and finally opened in 2008. Since then it has received immediate recognition in the eco-tourism media, and in Red Dot’s opinion, it’s a bit of a gem! The proud staff prefers to view their property as a retreat, rather than a resort; after all, the name ‘hermitage’ is in association with the ashram culture of ancient Hindu India, where sages lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature. Architecturally, the retreat adopts the traditional Keralan style of ‘vasthu’, formally known as Nalukettu. This architecture is typically rectangular in structure where four halls are joined together with a central court yard open to the sky, which works specifically to maintain cool temperatures in a hot climate. Carpenters and craftsman, otherwise accustomed to temple restoration, laboured for two years in construction of this site, using the locally-sourced forest wood (Urruppu), which has since been carved to leave hut-style buildings of true artistry. Impressive 200 year-old Keralan pots sit on the entrance to the resorts various rooms and buildings.
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Accommodation
Accommodation takes the form of 12 detached thatched cottages. There are eight sea-view cottages with twin or double bed, each with its own sea-facing balcony and open-top shower bathroom with attached garden courtyard. The high-ceiling cottage bedroom features, teak wood doors and flooring, and handmade furniture produced locally. The rooms are further styled by contemporary Keralan paintings and early 20C calendar pictures of the various religions of India. With each room is a Bose speaker system for your own MP3 player, otherwise, iPods are available for hire. There are 4 garden-view cottages with exactly the same facilities as the sea view ones, but provide views over the carefully-tendered gardens instead.
Facilities
The Hermitage offers a varied and comprehensive cultural programme to interested guests. The retreat boasts a cultural director; author and lecturer Alistair Shearer, who has been travelling and learning India for 25 years. The programme revolves around Alistair’s evening lectures. Covering topics that range from history, art, and architecture to religion and philosophy, they are delivered in a relaxed and informal setting, usually for around an hour before dinner. As well as these lectures, the retreat runs regular musical concerts and dance performances, visits and guided tours to local temples and festivals, many of which are not usually seen by tourists. Film nights are also a regular event. The Saraswati Reading Room contains a growing collection of books on many Indian-related topics, as well as periodicals, magazines, and general holiday reading. The on-site Priya Ayurvedic Spa offers both classical Ayurvedic therapies and Western Spa treatments. Experienced trained experts offer courses and advice on meditation, and run regular yoga classes for all capabilities in the Patanjali Yoga Hall that overlooks the beach. Guests are encouraged to borrow bicycles and explore. Personal cookery classes are easily arranged on demand each afternoon with the resort’s head chef. This place can pander to your every wish. The Annapurna restaurant is the centre of the site. The flexible kitchen is able to draw on a varied cuisine, incorporating Indian, Middle-Eastern and European flavours. The Annapurna specialises in authentic, predominantly vegetarian food not usually seen in hotels. There is also a more open beachside restaurant, the Meenakshi, where you can enjoy fresh fish caught by the local long boats that go out each morning. The palm-lined beach is state owned, as beach privatisation is not possible in Kerala; however the resorts particular stretch makes up a large cove that is not otherwise easily accessible to the general public. Guests are able to enjoy this pure beach without undue intrusion. Aside for the beach the resort offers a stunning infinity pool set just back from the sea.
Excursions
There are a number of lesser-known sight-seeing locations within easy distance of the Hermitage, tours of which can be extensively described and arranged at reception. Sites include two reclusive ashram temples – spiritual centres of retreat and teachings, as well as trips out to Bekal Fort, local market towns and villages, small temples and mosques, and also forest treks that run across the boarder of Kerala and Karnataka.
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