Neeleshwar Hermitage

Rooms

The traditional, thatched cottages are set nicely far apart in 2 tiers, looking out to sea, over the lush gardens, or onto the pool. Some are paired, making them useful for groups; the Private Plunge Pool Cottages are the most luxurious, each with a private plunge pool in its walled garden.

A teak veranda fronts each cottage with rustic, wicker furniture coaxing you to sit and daydream. Interiors are light-filled and airy, thanks to large windows dressed with drop-down, opaque blinds and soaring 5m-high ceilings.

Enormous beds have fabulous matresses and snowy white linen, along with plump pillows and bright bolsters. Bedside tables and Planters-style twin chairs were carved by local craftsmen; there are small writing desks as well as cavernous wardrobes.

Out back, bathrooms are huge and partly open to the sky. Some have frangipani trees growing right through them, others look out over a big palm in the private back garden beyond. The solar showers are powerful and refreshing and some rooms have a tub with views. You’ll find a pile of thick towels, bathrobes and slippers for the spa, and a big range of locally-sourced toiletries whilst stylish surface-top sinks have eco-friendly plugs to help save water.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

You have a choice of 2 restaurants. Annapurna is dedicated to the goddess of nourishment and sits in the middle of the grounds in a high, pagoda-style structure. Roofed with coconut palms and open on all sides, it's a really exotic spot for a meal and the food is fantastic - a mix of North and South Indian, Middle Eastern and European flavours. Mostly vegetarian, specialities include idli and dosa (spicy savoury rice cakes and pancakes respectively), bathal (similar to bahjis) and Keralan-style fish and chicken dishes.

At the Meenakshi restaurant, close to the pool and just a few metres back from the beach, you dine with your toes in the sand beneath the swaying coconut palms. A light lunch time ‘black board’ menu reflects what’s available from the local market that day whilst in the evenings fresh fish and seafood - delivered to the hotel every morning by local fishermen - take pride of place. Expect dishes like Malabar prawn curry or king fish prepared in banana leaves. The food is excellent, though prices are on the high side. The service can be slow but, hey, you're here to relax so why bother stressing? Poolside drinks are also available.

A continental breakfast is available in either restaurant until 10am, and a complimentary afternoon tea with locally made biscuits is served daily in Meenakshi.

Annapurna is also fully licensed for a range of beers and a small selection of Sula wines: chenin blanc and a sauvignon in white, chardonnay and shiraz in red. Drinks are also available from 10am until 7pm at the pool bar which overlooks a small lagoon and the ocean: it’s a perfect setting for a memorable sundowner.

If you take a cruise on the The Lotus you'll find a bar and modern kitchen plus indoor and alfresco dining areas. A personal chef is part of the crew and we couldn’t find fault with any of the meals we had on the boat. All meals, tea and all day fresh fruit are included in the Rates.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Take a 1- or 2-night backwater cruise on 32m-luxury houseboat, The Lotus. You can embark either outside Kannur (perfect if you're arriving at Calicut airport or coming up from Kochi) which is a great way to arrive at Neeleshwar, or from a pier close to Hermitage. There will be opportunities for swimming, visiting a coir factory as well as Ori village and its Visnu temple before you anchor mid-river for the night. If you fancy spending a second night on board - we can’t recommend this too highly - you’ll have a more leisurely first day’s programme
  
  
• Unwind in the Priya Spa, built in the style of a traditional temple. A huge range of Ayurvedic massages are on offer along with, beauty treatments and Naturopathic therapies: Thai, Swedish and de-stress massages, reflexology, pedicure, manicure, milk or flower baths, even a special 'Jet Lag Reviver' treatment to set you up for your perfect week of R&R. You'll have a complimentary consultation with the Ayurvedic doctor on arrival to discuss your health and lifestyle, allowing treatments to be tailored to your needs
  
  
• Laze by the infinity pool, stroll along the virtually deserted beach and completely unwind, or practice yoga (with your own teacher or in a group class). Or take a 4-day course to learn the art of transcendental meditation
  
  
• Take a cookery class with one of the hotel chefs; a different dish is taught on site every day and you can buy all the spices locally to take home with you
  
  
• Explore the local area by bicycle (guides can be arranged by request) and visit Bekal Fort, the largest in Kerala, whose impressive bastions looks over the Arabian sea and a long, sandy beach
  
  
• Observe a festival or Theyattam (spiritual possession), which often last all night; the dancers wear dramatic masks and costumes
  
  
• Nature lovers will be in their element: the hotel helped set up a conservation programme for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, which hatch eggs on the beach out front. Depending on when you visit, you can watch the turtles arrive, collect the eggs to take to the local hatchery or help release the baby turtles back into the sea
  
  
• Resident and migratory birds include rare eagles, white-throated kingfishers and purple herons; book a bird-watching expedition with an expert guide
  
  
• Alistair Shearer, an expert on Indian culture and the Sanskrit spiritual classics, gives fascinating evening lectures (in high season) and is a mine of local information; if you miss him in person, get a copy of his fascinating book Views from an Indian Bus. Regular concerts are given by local musicians, too

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Ayurvedic treatments
• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Yoga

Kids

Well-behaved children are welcome and the cottages can take an extra bed each, but this hotel is definitely aimed at adults and there are no real facilities for kids.

Best for:

Toddlers (1-4 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Neeleshwar Hermitage is set on an unspoilt beach in northern Kerala - a region traditionally known as Malabar - about 25km south of the town of Kasaragod. It's a 2.5 hour drive south of Mangalore (Mangaluru).

By Air
Kannur (80km away) and Mangalore (95km away) are the closest airports. They're both domestic airports with direct flights from Mumbai, Cochin, Bangalore and Chennai. Mangalore also has direct flights from Goa and Delhi. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer. Taking a taxi is not recommended.

By Train
The hotel is 4km from Neeleshwar (Nileshwar / Nileswaram) railway station, which is served by a fast train from Kochi (4.5 hours) and other frequent trains from all major destinations.

Getting Around
The hotel can provide bikes and arrange guided tours, but this place is so relaxing that you probably won't want to venture very far.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Kerala and getting around