Shalimar Spice Garden is a mountain retreat, set in the cardamom-covered hills of Thekkady, at the edge of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Originally conceived by Maria Angela, a passionate Italian designer, it encompasses verdant landscapes of the surrounding spice gardens to create a serene living space that merges Indian style with western comforts. Not surprisingly, its final approach via the wooden footbridge over a gurgling stream, acts as a metaphor to leaving your world behind.
The rich foliage of the Shalimar Spice Garden surround clusters of whitewashed thatched cottages that house a total of 22 rooms. The décor is very much Indian; polished wooden floors, high thatched ceilings and wrap-around verandas, which is cleverly mixed with Italian and western style of stained glass windows and elegant bathrooms. Mix these with hammocks, a good size swimming pool overlooking the hills and a spa with Ayurvedic massages and you are half way to heaven.
Gourmet dishes are specially prepared by trained chef, mostly with your consultation, using home-grown spices and ingredients and fresh catch of the day. Shalimar Spice Garden offers escorted plantation tours which are both educative and entertaining. Nearby is the Periyar Tiger Reserve where you can take guided tours with ex-poachers, go boating in the Periyar Lake or take nature walks through its diverse habitats. Another interesting activity is the Tribal Heritage Walk.
Amenities
Bar/PubCoffee ShopConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableGardenMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesSpa/SaunaStay Shalimar Spice Garden comprises of 22 rooms, cottages and pool villas. Rooms are located in the garden and are grouped in a block of three or four rooms, each with its own veranda or hammocks to enjoy the surrounding nature. The spacious stand-alone cottages come with a private veranda overlooking the garden and the two independent pool villas have a private balcony with a garden, perfect for romantic candle light dinners. All have Wi-Fi connectivity and Tea / Coffee facilities.
ChildCare Families with children are welcome to stay at the Shalimar Spice Garden but there are no particular facilities available for children. Children may be accommodated in their parent’s bedroom at an extra charge. Only one additional child per room is permitted. Babysitting service is available upon request.
Dine The semi open-air, Falling Leaves restaurant at the Shalimar Spice Garden, furnished with antique wooden furniture, serves a mix of delicious Keralan, Indian, Italian and Continental dishes. To quench your thirst, head for The Red Lounge, an ideal place to kick back and relax near a crackling fire place. Meals are served buffet style when the house is full, otherwise in the garden, by the swimming pool or in your own veranda.
Relax Facilities at the Shalimar Spice Garden include a medium sized swimming pool, set on top of a hill and a spa with two treatment rooms, offering traditional Ayurvedic treatments and massages. Yoga classes can be arranged on request. Within the resort, there is a cosy sitting area with a log fire and a TV room with board games and in the surrounds, are ample places to relax and enjoy nature.
Experience Guests at the Shalimar Spice Garden can explore the surrounding gardens, home to variety of birds and wildlife. Also, take excursions to the nearby Periyar National Park where you can see tigers, elephants, variety of deer species, Indian bison, foxes and leopards. Take an escorted tour through spice plantations, visit a tea factory or the neighbouring tribal villages. Activity enthusiasts can hike up the Sabarimala pilgrimage site or take a bamboo rafting adventure.
Location Shalimar Spice Garden is located in a village called Murikkady, surrounded by Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. 6km from Thekkady and easily accessible from Cochin (180km/4.5 hours away) and Madurai (140km/3 hours away).
Getting there Fly to Cochin International Airport. Cochin is the nearest airport to Shalimar Spice Garden, the drive from there takes around 4-hours 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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