Experience Seekers Alert! These 7 Dreamy CGH Earth Resorts Are for You

Looking to spark up your holiday with tailor-made experiences amidst tranquil environs? Check out these eco-friendly vacation retreats in the heart of South India.

1. Weave Tales of Nature at Wayanad Wild

Flaunting nature-inspired cottage-style accommodations and exhilarating outdoor experiences, Wayanad Wild is a jungle resort in Kerala. Stay at the dreamy Superior Cottages, that mingle earthy hues with the wise use of bamboo, salvaged ship-wood and occasional steel frames. There is an in-house restaurant that brings to you a variety of local flavours, and entice you with low-calorie and healthy food options too. The Kingfish and Bamboo Rice Payasam is highly recommended. Wayanad Wild gives the bar a miss and instead wins you over with warm bonfire evenings, lit up with travel stories, musical performances and nocturnal excursions in the heart of the rainforest.

You can further enjoy various outdoor activities here like bamboo rafting along the Anoothupuza River, plantation tours, hiking tours, bike riding sessions and photography classes. Malabar Cookery Classes are also consucted here for the food enthusiasts.

Looking for something more challenging? Embark on a nocturnal safari across Lakkidi or zip-line down the Western Ghats at break-neck speed here. 

#MMTParentsSpecial: The resort also provides special kids-only activities like Bird Hunt and Curious Scientist programmes for your little munchkins.

Book Your Stay at Wayanad Wild

2. Unlock Fort Kochi’s Rich Cultural Past at Brunton Boatyard

A shipyard-turned-swanky hotel, Brunton Boatyard is a well-restored slice of the Raj days in Fort Kochi. Tastefully decorated with colonial paraphernalia and vintage furniture, this boutique heritage hotel celebrates the brilliance of British, Portuguese and Dutch architectural styles.

Winning you over with 26 charming accommodations, the hotel comes with harbour-front and town-facing rooms. There are en-suite bathrooms with ritzy bathtubs too, from where you can watch the day go by through the adjoining windows. Select accommodations also come with colonial verandahs with grand views.

The hotel has four distinctly-styled restaurants, that provide a variety of cuisines to savour. You can dig into delicious grilled meat at Terrace Grill, the outdoor restaurant, savour 32 distinct cuisines at History Fine Dining, and cap off your days with a water-front meal at Armoury Restobar. The hotel can also help you plan a romantic rendezvous at the promenade deck here.

There is also a sprawling outdoor all-season swimming pool, an Ayurvedic spa, a Business Centre and gift shop here. Do opt for the sunset cruises, take up cookery classes and explore the various tourist attractions of Fort Kochi while here.

Book Your Stay at Brunton Boatyard

Read More: 5 Delightful Things to Do in Kochi

3. Soak in the rich Tamil Culture at Mantra Koodam, Kumbakonam

Traditional Tamil influences and contemporary lifestyle comforts cross paths at Mantra Koodam – a plush resort designed like a typical Tamil Brahmin street of erstwhile Cholanadu. Recreating the Dravidian vibes, the resort offers two kinds of accommodations – the Mantra Cottages and the Mantra Illams.

All cottages are elegantly furnished with Athangudi-tiled floors, Burmese teak doors, period décor, plush bedrooms, open-air bathrooms and ample outdoor spaces to luxuriate amidst nature. There is a charming restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating, and a snack outlet – Mantra Tea Kadai for all your #ChaiKapiTales. While the Maharaja Thali consisting of 17 recipes is a must-try here, the delicious Crab Soup is guaranteed to delight the food connoisseurs here.

The resort further wows you with a well-equipped Convention Hall, an outdoor events area and a state-of-the-art outdoor swimming pool. Oh! Do embark on a bullock cart ride here and experience the charm of rural India.

Book Your Stay at Mantra Koodam

4. Step Back in Time at Eighth Bastion

Modelled after the Dutch-style colonial abodes of Fort Kochi, the Eighth Bastion is a tribute to the region’s rich cultural milieu. Just a stone’s throw away from the famous Fort Kochi beach, the plush hotel offers lavish Bastion Rooms with mellow architecture that exhibits fine Dutch and Malabar influences. Select accommodations also delight you with private gardens and terraces-with-a-view.

Up for East Asian meals with a Malabari twist? Hop over to the East Indies restaurant. While the flavourful spices are sourced from the local Mattanchery market, the menu serves a diverse range of delicacies inspired by the erstwhile Dutch colonies.

#MMTRecommends: Bite into the Bruder Bread here, an authentic Dutch speciality that’ll definitely win you over!

Book Your Stay at Eighth Bastion

5. Stay at Maison Perumal – A 130-year-old Chettiar Mansion

While the home-front Kolams lend a Tamil touch to Maison Perumal, the stained-glass work speaks of colourful French influences. Located at the Tamil quarter of Pondicherry, Maison Perumal exhibits minimalist-yet-stylish interiors, with period furniture and novel fixtures.

You can stay at the vibrant Deluxe Rooms, relish healthy organic meals at the Courtyard Restaurant and relish a hands-on market-to-kitchen experience with the Chefs here. There’s also a chic bar to kick-back and relax in.

The boutique hotel regularly organizes art exhibitions and plans Kolam Art training for cultural enthusiasts too. 

Book Your Stay at Maison Perumal

Read More: Places to Visit in Pondicherry

6. Navigate the Kerala Backwaters with Spice Coast Cruises

Floating across the sparkling waters of the Vembanad Lake, the traditional Kettuvalams of the Spice Coast Cruises allow you to explore the Kerala backwaters in style. Made of eco-friendly materials like bamboo and coir, the former spice boats have been refurbished with intelligent tweaks to accommodate contemporary amenities. They come equipped with a modern bedroom, partially open living areas, and a front-deck that commands picturesque natural views.

You can greet the morning sun from the front deck, hear first-hand stories of the local life from your guide, enjoy the local flora and fauna of the lake, and exchange ideas with the local fishermen at work. Make sure to sign up for a traditional experience with a village visit and interact with locals, it’ll be an exhilarating encounter for sure!

#MMTFunTip: Catch your own trout from the lake and savour it after being cooked in local spices and flavours for an immersive experience.

Book Your Stay at Eighth Bastion

7. Wake Up to Sounds of Nature at Coconut Lagoon

A bird watcher’s paradise, Coconut Lagoon is an aesthetic property, comprising artsy cottage-style accommodations, surrounding a central grove forest. Flaunting Thachu Shastra inspired geometric woodwork with fascinating Manichitrathazhu locking system, the beautiful cottages bring a dash of homespun elegance to your stay here. Select accommodations also come with lake-front views, private swimming pools and garden-hammocks, perfect for your afternoon siestas. The resort also has an outdoor pool and an Ayurveda Centre as well.

Matching the flavourful ambience of the resort with its delicious fare, the restaurants here are a food lover’s paradise. You can bite into freshly grilled fishes at the Vembanad Grill, take joy in al-fresco dining at Ettukettu and dig into delicious age-old Malabar recipes spread on the buffet at the lakeside restaurant – Aymanam!

#MMTFoodTips: For an alluring Kerala experience, sign up for Paddy Hut Dining, where you’ll be served local delicacies amidst a beautiful patchwork of paddy fields and backwater lagoons.

The resort also hosts local plays and performances, offers sunset cruises and a Butterfly Garden for nature enthusiasts. The Floating Tea Shop is the star attraction, presenting a sneak-peek into the local way of life. You can also sign up for exotic Canoe Rides along the backwaters for a riveting experience.     

Book Your Stay at Coconut Lagoon      

Planning an experiential vacay already? Book your stay at MakeMyTrip now.