Hotel Spice Village, Periyar

Spice Village is located in Kumily, a small settlement three kilometres from Thekkady, the main entrance to the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Set in the heart of the Cardamom Hills of Kerala, Spice Village is an unprecedented tourist destination, offering a rare opportunity to enjoy South India's wildlife and beauty. The village lies just outside Periyar Tiger Reserve, and a stay here is the perfect way to appreciate and respect the environment. This is a place for anyone who loves nature: somewhere to fill your lungs with fresh mountain air, to savour the rich fragrance of cinnamon and cloves, to watch young elephants drinking at the water's edge.

Recreating the mood of a local tribal community, individual cottages amongst a landscaped spice garden. Each dwelling is thatced with elephant grass and offers simple luxury and privacy. Throughout the village the atmosphere is relaxed and enchanting.

There are several ways to explore the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The most popular is by boat, which allows visitors to watch animals drinking at the lakeside. Two hour trips are booked at Spice village, and the best chance of sighting animals is in the early morning or at dusk. It’s an eerie sensation passing by the forest branches which poke out from the water, stretching through the mist like dead men’s fingers. Many animals come to the water’s edge and it is one of the few places in the world where elephants can be observed at close quarters from the safety of a boat.

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. A number of creature comforts have been added, however, to make your stay a luxurious one. The rooms are spacious and furnished with simple sophistication: terracotta tiled floors, wooden beds and chairs, and whitewashed walls. (to preserve the environment, the furniture has been crafted using pine from cochin’s historic docks.) There is also a telephone, a fan, an en suite bathroom with hot running water, and an efficient laundry service. A verendah runs round the entire cottage, and each dwelling is set its own land.

Spice Village has an exclusive Ayurvedic clinic, wel-equipped for treatments like Pizhichil, Njavarakizhy, Dhara and other natural therapies. The village offers many other facilities, including a conference hall and games room, complete with table tennis table, carrom and chess boards, and a floodlit outdoor badminton court. The highlight, though, is the garden itself, bursting with a rich array of spice trees and business. Each plant is carefully marked (giving the English and Latin names), and there is a botanist at hand to answer any question.

At the centre of the village is a swimming pool, surrounded by tropical trees and lawns. Overlooking it is a buffet restaurant, which serves a wide range of traditional Indian and international cooking. As you would expect, spices play their part in a menu which changes daily.

Things to do

It can be arranged for you to venture deep into the tropical forests. Accompanied by a tribal guide, you will be dropped off by boat at the far end of the lake, from where you proceed on foot, quickly leaving behind the crowds.

Cooking classes

For those who want more than just a taste of the delicious Kerala cuisine, cooking classes are held by the chef every evening. You get a chance to see for yourself how the dishes are so carefully made. You could also try your hand with the earthenware pots and pans and make your own variation of the Kerala savouries. The Kerala fish curry, appam, avial etc. have a very exotic flavour. The method of preparation is so different that it makes Kerala cuisine very distinct and liked by all. Enough reasons to watch, learn and try for yourself.