Blissful Stay at Fragrant Hotels, Kerala

This blog is about three wellness and spa hotels that belong to the Fragrant Hotels at three different locations in Kerala, the God’s own country.

Yesterday, I met my neighbor’s mother who returned from Kollam, Kerala. She recounted her one week stay at the Fragrant Hotels with such a great enthusiasm that at the end of a two hour listening period, I booked my 4 days stay at Fragrant Hotels in Munnar. She showed stunning pictures of the hotel’s location and the facilities. And She said she was treated like a member of a royal family and the attention and pampering she received was something extraordinary. She was satisfied that she spent her money in a worthy way.

Fragrant Hotels group has three hotels in:

• Kollam
• Cochin
• Munnar

If you take to visit their website  and look at the images, you won’t fail to appreciate their choice of location for all the three hotels.  I thought the way they designed their hotels and developed the locality is so thoughtful that the locations became more beautiful than they were before.  The locations earned a different identity because of the presence of a Fragrant Hotel.

Their first Fragrant Hotels was built just on the shores of backwater canal. It’s now a 4-star resort and Ayurvedic spa. Then, they added two more hotels in Kochi and Munnar-South India’s most visited hill station by the Americans and Europeans and of course India’s rich and famous.

All the three hotels’ Ayurvedic spa and clinic’s herbal resources are procured from their own organic gardens. Every vegetable and fruit, every spice, herb, and condiment come from the Fragrant Hotels’ pesticide-free farms.

Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort & Ayurveda Spa, Kollam

This resort was opened in 2009 and it became an instant hit among health-conscious people from India and abroad who are also die-hard haters of chemicals based health care.

Location

Kerala being a 100% tropical state in India is full of thousands and thousands of coconut trees. If you happen to travel in a train in Kerala, you can see an endless row of coconut groves as far as your eyes can see.

This 4-star resort is built amidst tall coconut groves in a five-acre land on the banks of Mala lake, Paravur, Kollam.

The designers of the hotel created some breathtaking landscapes and gardens around the property.

I would call the Fragrant Hotels, not as a holiday destination; they are holidaymakers. You only need to book your stay with them and they create a memorable and once in a lifetime holiday for you.

Apart from the backwater canals facing location, you would enjoy Kerala’s healthy cuisine served in posh dining halls or in the riverside bar. Being a waterfront resort, there is no dearth of outdoor activities that include swimming, long boat ride on the canals surrounded by green trees, ride on a paddle boat, and indulge in ayurvedic massage by highly skilled masseuses.

Facilities

Prana Spa

The guests’ day starts luxuriously awakened by various bird calls. After coffee, you are guided straightaway to Prana Spa, the hotels relaxing yoga sessions and exotic ayurvedic spa massages.

Backwater canals view.

Every bedroom is so creatively designed so as to offer a view of either the backwater canal or the mala lakefront.

Air-conditioned rooms

All the rooms are comfortably air-conditioned and maintained impeccably clean.  Every room has a sit-out facing the lake. They are said to smell of freshness throughout the day because of tastefully designed interiors.

There are various types of accommodations that include lake view rooms and private pool villa. The villas have a separate living room.

Facilities and Amenities

• Swimming pool
• Jacuzzi
• Prana Fitness Spa
• Party hall
• Rooftop restaurant
• Gymnasium
• Indoor games such as table tennis, carom board, and chess
• Amphitheatre
• Live Kerala music and dance
• Library
• Souvenir shop
• Free toiletries
• Wi-Fi
• Valet parking
• Coffeemaker
• Lockers
• Laundry
• Travel assistance

Food and Drinks

There are two restaurants called the ‘Anna Rasa’ and ‘Sandhya’ and a coffee shop called, ‘Ritulahari’.

The Kerala cuisine is famous for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Coconut oil and shredded coconut are liberally used. The white rice is big and that is their staple food.

Anna Rasa air-conditioned restaurant will have tables with a fine view of the backwaters.

Sandhya restaurant is a rooftop restaurant to enjoy the fresh country air.

Ritulahari is the coffee shop that also offers some snacks.

Outdoor activities

• Guest can take a short cruise in the backwaters enjoying the spectacular village atmosphere.
• Fishing with the traditional fishing rod and hook in the backwater or in the Mala lake. It is a great time-pass in rural Kerala.
• Fragrant Nature Resort arranges local cultural shows such as the famous Kathakali dance and Mohiniyattam.

Getting in and around the Fragrant Hotels and Resort.

Munroe Island visit

Munroe island, a natural island formed around the backwaters. It is only 27 km from Kollam (Quilon) town. There are a total of eight small islands and each one is divided by the canals of the backwater.

Boat ride to Alleppey

If you like taking a long boat ride in the enchanting backwaters, you can take houseboat ride to Alleppey from Kollam. It takes 8 hours to reach the destination with two stops in between for lunch and tea. The retune journey time is also the same.

Other sightseeing places.

• Palaruvi waterfalls
• Sriman Narayana temple at Sivagiri
• Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple
• Kottakayal lake

How to reach the Fragrant Hotel and Resort?

The hotel is located in Nedungolam PO in Paravur, Kollam. It is 58 km from the Kerala capital Trivandrum.

Other locations of the Fragrant Hotels

Fragrant Hotel, Kochi is a 5-star hotel with a harbor view.

Fragrant Hotel, Munnar is also a 5-star resort.