PhilipKutty's Farm offers an intimate and authentic homestay, on an island in the Kerala backwaters of Lake Vambanad. Owned and operated by a local family, the Kutty's have opened their 750-acre estate to visitors wanting to experience the ways of local Indian life. The working farm which practices sustainable/organic methods of farming and the villas, are approachable only by ‘vallam’ (country boat) that ferries guests from across the wide backwater to the island.
Set on an island, there are just six independent and spacious villas. All are traditional in design with terracotta tiled roofs, wooden ceilings and wraparound veranda overlooking the outer dyke facing the peaceful backwaters. Inside, the décor is simple but homely with tiled floors, plush beds and studded with antique furniture. The highlight of your stay here is home-cooked traditional south Indian meals prepared with fresh home-grown ingredients and spices.
There is a multitude of activities on offer at the PhilipKutty’s Farm including a tour of their own farm that grows a wide range of crops. Take a cycle tour around the local villages and visit the old Syrian St. Mary’s parish church at Vechoor and further afield, is the Vaikom Siva temple the biggest and most famous. Birdwatchers will have a field day with the rich birdlife in the surrounds and the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. For relaxation, there is a spa centre opposite the hotel.
Amenities
Coffee ShopConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableGardenMultilingual StaffRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesStay PhilipKutty's Farm offers just six spacious villas. All are built in the traditional style with terracotta tiled roofs and high ceilings, with a multitude of doors and netted windows, allowing for natural breeze to cool the rooms. Each villa has a small wrap-around veranda overlooking the outer dyke facing the peaceful backwaters. Inside, the décor is simple with cool tiled floors, plush beds with fine linen and decorated with antique furniture and artefacts.
ChildCare Families with children are welcome to stay at PhilipKutty's Farm. However, there are no specific facilities available for children. Babysitting service can be arranged on request. Breakfast is a mix of south Indian and western dishes.
Dine Meals at the PhilipKutty's Farm are home-cooked by the graceful and skilled Mrs Mathew. These are served on a communal table set in a thatched pavilion on stilts overlooking the farm. Being a traditional agrarian household, all meals are lavish feasts prepared with coconuts, vegetables, fruit and spices grown in the garden and freshly caught fish. There is no menu but expect south Indian cuisine with lots of fish-based dishes, sometimes with six curries and various accompaniments.
Relax For most guests at the PhilipKutty's Farm, the day begins with an early-morning walk around the farm and learn about the crops grown in it, which includes coconut, banana, cocoa, nutmeg, pepper and mangoes. During the day, you can visit the Ayurvedic centre opposite the hotel or relax on a cosy chair in the veranda with a book. Later in the day, take a cooking class to learn about south Indian dishes or a sunset cruise along the backwaters on a vallam (local canoe).
Experience There are a wide range of activities on offer at the PhilipKutty's Farm. For bird watchers a trip can be arranged to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary but the farm and the backwaters offer ample opportunities for sighting kingfishers, woodpeckers, egrets, cormorants, herons, snakebirds and more. Other activities include nature walks, cycling and fishing. Local attractions include the St. Mary’s parish church at Vechoor, an old Syrian Catholic church dating back to over 500 years.
Location Philipkutty's Farm is located on a private island in the Keralan backwaters, near Kumarakom, in southern India.
Getting there Fly into Cochin International Airport via Dubai. Cochin is the nearest airport to Philip Kuttys Farm, the drive from there takes around 1-hour 30-minutes.
When to go Isolated from much of India by the Western Ghats, the climate of Kerala & Karnataka is tropical. The best time to visit is from January through to April. Summer is hot and humid; the monsoon season arrives in early June and lasts till August. While September can be dry and humid. There can be a little rain in October and November, cooling off around December and lasting until February.
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