Visiting Kappad Beach

 Kappadkadavu as the locals call Kappad is no ordinary beach. It’s the beach that launched a thousand ships so to speak. Vasco da Gama stepped ashore with 170 men in 3 ships on 27^th May 1498 at Panthalayani, about 6 km away. His visit launched trade between Portugal and India. The Dutch and English followed suit wanting a hold over calico and they didn’t leave for nearly 450 years. Vasco da Gama died on his third visit to India in 1524  but he left India finally only in 1538 when his remains interred in St. Francis church returned to Portugal. What remains behind still is the gold crown studded with precious stones that Vasco da Gama presented to the king of Kochi. The crown is still to be seen in the Hill Palace museum at Thripunitura in Kochi.

Kappad is one of the still serene, untouched beaches with a charm all its own unruffled by the weight of its history. For much before Vasco da Gama came the Arabs, the Greeks and the Romans attracted by the spices and riches of Malabar. As Kappad beach is the entry point to the Malabar coastline.

Beach Sights

·         A stone pillar with an inscription commemorates the event of Vasco da Gama’s landing

·         Rock formation at one side and beach stretches endlessly on the other

·         Shore is a short 20 m and the sand is swallowed by soil

·         Wading isn’t really possible as the waters are quite deep

·         A rock abutment into the sea has a temple Urapottam Kavu considered to be 800 years old

Location

• The best route is to imagine you’re on the ship of Vasco da Gama and cruise through the backwaters towards Korappuzha river and come ashore on Kappad
• Take the train or plane to Kozhikode and Kappad is 16 km away.
• Drive down 20 minutes to Kappad or bus it or take the auto

Shopping in Thekkady

White Pepper

               
Shop for Spices in Thekkady       
Kumily Spice Village:    
They charge you just to enter setting you back almost by Rs.300, as it iss charged per head. The shop here also does not sell in quantity of your choice and you will have to buy packaged.

A better option is the market in Thekkady which is right at the junction. There is a Spice Castle which is at the beginning of the lane and Lord's Spices at the end of the lane. The latter offers really great prices like coffee for Rs.50 for 1/4 kg and they also sell soaps in singles. There are also gift packs of spices which offer a variety of spices in a simple plastic or boxed. Spice Castle offers very good quality spices that lasts 3 years.

Elaichi

Besides the spices,  there are Kashmiri shops selling traditional handicrafts. There is a Kerala Government Handloom shop selling exquisite fabric. In addition, there is just one government-recognised Handicraft emporium worth a visit which sells wall hangings with Raja Ravi Varma paintings and wooden curios.

Kishmish

Elaichi

Cinnamon

Pazhassiraja Museum

The Pazhassiraja Museum is named after Pazhassiraja Raja Kerala Varma of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam Royal Family. He’s the Lion of Kerala who led the Pazhassi Revolt against the British in the 1700s and fought guerilla style in the hills of Wayanad becoming a terror to the English. They managed to corner him only in 1805 when he was shot dead on November 30^th in an encounter. The Museum run by the State Archeology Department is a tribute to this fearless freedom fighter.

In a fitting tribute, the Museum and Art Gallery is located in a former courthouse of the East India Company! The private quarters which are linked to the main courthouse museum area is now a museum dedicated to V.K.Krishna Menon.

On Display at the Pazhassiraja Museum: 

Artefacts from the time of the Lion of Kerala are well preserved.

·         Antique Bronzes

·         Models of Temples

·         Models of megalithic monuments like Umbrella Stones, Dolomite Cysts

·         Ancient Mural Paintings

·         Old coins

Sculpture Museum

The basement of the courthouse that served as the jail house is where the sculpture museum is situated.

·         Stone carvings are on display here.

·         Memorabilia and uniforms of the Malabar Police

Art Gallery

The oil paintings and other works of the famous Raja Ravi Varma are on display here. The works of his uncle Raja Raja Varma are also on view.

Adjacent Museum

You can also visit the museum built in memory of V.K. Krishna Menon. He gave a record breaking 8 hour speech, a record that still stands, to the United Nations on the subject of Kashmir on January 23, 1957 before he collapsed on the Security Council floor. He was Defence Minister in Nehru’s Cabinet and resigned after China attacked India in 1962. He's the co-founder of Penguin Books with Sir Allen Lane and Sainik military schools.

The Museum stores his news clips, letters and personal belongings.

Timings of Pazhassiraja Museum: 

• 9 am to 4:30 pm. 
• Closed for lunch 1pm-2pm 
• Open all days except Monday and National and State holidays. 

Contact information of Pazhassiraja Museum: Ph- 495-2384382Location of Pazhassiraja Museum: It is 5 km from Kozhikode in East Hills. It is a drive up a really steep hill which gives a view of Kozhikode.

Why I Love Kozhikode

Kozhikode Railway Station

Kozhikode Railway Station

                                   

• The railway station is spick and span and you can actually spot staff sweeping the premises. The chairs are still in good shape not dented or rusted. 

•  It’s one of the few cities in India where the rhythm of life still follows a leisurely pace. The markets open only at 9:30 in the morning. Seeing closed shops makes one smile.

                                                  

• The autos come in three different categories and they will honestly tell you so as well as the difference in the fare….By meter, pre-paid, without meter. So, say from the station to the KSRTC bus stand…. the pre-paid will be Rs.45, the regular autos Rs. 60 and the honest auto driver who goes by the meter, it will be Rs.39.50. The auto guy will also with a great smile explain that the difference in the unmetered and pre-paid rate is because coming to the station was without a fare! 

• It’s got the cleanest, most modern airport and the domestic terminal is almost empty, barely two airlines operate from here….there are actually airline booking counters which are not used. This is because Kozhikode is NRI territory, if you don’t mention it you’ll be driven straight to the International Airport terminal instead of domestic because it’ll be assumed you’re flying abroad. 

• The only city in Kerala where they actually speak Hindi and English in a way that can be understood.

• It’s where you’ll find the best upma this side of the country – at Sarvanna Bhavan opposite the KSRTC stand. It’s the only restaurant in Kozhikode that opens at 7 am. 

• It’s where people as far as Bengaluru in the neighbouring state of Karnataka drive down to sample the non-veg fare at Zain’s which is located on Convent Cross Road behind the Fire Station. Call – 495-2366311. Be warned, it opens only at the grand hour of 12:30 morning because it’s mainly a lunch place.

• It’s one of the few places where the guest houses are decent and stay as comfortable as a hotel and less expensive. There’s Alakapuri Guest House at Maulana Mohammed Ali Road (Call 495-2723451/52/53/54); Aradhana Tourist Home, Kamala Building, right next to the station (Call 495-2302220/21)

• Kozhikode is a hop, skip and jump from neighbouring states so it’s a great point to start and end the journey when travelling in Kerala because it works out cheaper since it’s at the northern end of Kerala which is at the tip of India. For example, the difference in air fares from say Thiruvanthapuram to Mumbai and from Kozhikode to Mumbai is a cool Rs.2050. 

• One of the most scenic routes by train is the one from Thiruvanthapuram to Kozhikode via Allepey.

Sightseeing in Beypore

Beypore is a coastal port in Kozhikode, one of the oldest in Kerala. Made famous by Vaikom Mohammed Basheer known as Beypore Sultan who settled here “so that his dreams became his address.” It’s where, like the migratory birds of Kadalundi, Arabs arrived and where locals smuggled themselves into “Uru” in search of greener pastures in the Gulf, an exodus which continues to date but now more by air.

There is a nominal entrance fee to get into the port. You need to ask the permission of the ship owners to board them.

What’s on Offer in Beypore:

·      KadalundiBird Sanctuary

·      Ship breaking yard

·      Purchase a a miniature model of the traditional country craft, “Uru”

·      Tasara weaving centre

·      Beypore lighthouse which is used by ships cruising Lakshadweep islands

·      Beypore harbour fishing nets and fishy things

·    Pulimutt sea bridge, 1 km away, best place to catch the sunrise and sunset and great camera pix

·      Dolphins frolicking in the sea, 15 minutes away

Reaching There

• Take the KSRTC bus from Kozhikode bus station. It’s 30 minutes away, around 11 km.
• Catch the train to Feroke and take an auto to Beypore, about 15 minutes away.
•   Take the ferry, it’s just 200 m across from Chaliyam

Learn weaving and dyeing at Tasara

Tasara Centre for Creative Weaving
Tasara means weaver’s shuttle in Sanskrit. Instead of checking into a hotel, opt for Tasara’s package and practise your hand at batik, dyeing, weaving, printing while living in the midst of the local weavers of Beypore in Kozhikode. 

Tariff:-
1. Short-term Stay:
5 nights 4 days with food and accommodation:
Twin sharing @ 200 Euros / Single @ 280 Euros

2. Artist in Residence: This package is offered for all artistes of all media.
1 month with food and accommodation and 50 Euros worth raw material, individual looms and classes as well as a chance to immerse in the local culture.
Twin sharing @ 800 Euros /Single @ 1100 Euros

What to buy:
Tasara products of linen, wool, silk, cotton such as fabric and furnishings, wall hangings and carpets. They are exclusive as they use Tasara’s unique technique like applying dye directly into the warp and surface layering of colours.

Workshops at Tasara
Tasara conducts an annual workshop on Weaving, Dyeing and Printing.

Training at Tasara
Beginners and professionals can avail of Tasara’s training held throughout the year on all processes of dyeing, be it batik, chemical or natural as well as weaving techniques. 

Reaching There

• 30 minutes drive from Kozhikode to Beypore or take the KSRTC bus to Beypore and then an auto. 
• Catch the train to Feroke and take an auto to Beypore, about 15 minutes away.

Contact Information: 
Email: vasudevantasara@yahoo.com
Email: tasara@sanchamet.in
Ph: 91 495 2414832

Uru boat builders of Beypore

Cheraman Perumal, the then king of Kerala, in Kodungallur, abdicated his throne and built an “Uru” or “dhow”, a country boat to reach Mecca way back in the 6^th century and embraced Islam. Visit Beypore and you can see the Khalasis, the traditional ship builders engaged in making Urus even today. Khalasi itself is an Arabic word meaning khalas, released as in released into the water. The “Uru” once used by Arabs for trading spice between Malabar and Arabia is a tourist craft now.

The “Uru” was created by hand by the khalasis using neither machine tools nor instruments nor design charts but from memory and mental mathematical calculations using traditional stanzas, each of which described a part of the ship. It was built from Malabar teak that floated down the Chaliyar river. To get the same teak today, you’ll have to visit Malaysia!

Reaching There
·   Take the KSRTC bus from Kozhikode bus station to Beypore. It’s 30 minutes away, around 11 km. 
·   Catch the train to Feroke and take an auto to Beypore, about 15 minutes away.

What to see and do at Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary

If there’s anything worth getting up at the crack of dawn for, it’s for the glimpse of a gem of an island cluster called Kadalundi named after the river Kadalundi which flows into the Arabian sea. The 2 km area set amidst hillocks is home to birds of a feather that flock together.

There are more than 100 local varieties and over 60 migratory species at the Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary

Migratory Species                 

• Brahmini Kites
•  Cormorants
•  Heron
•  Gulls
•  Sandpiper
•  Whimbrel
•  Terns

    The sanctuary is also crawling with a variety of crabs, turtles, fish and mussels. And the view from 200 m above sea level is a bird’s eye view of the river mouth and sea at Kadalundi Nagaram, the local name for the lush green tip. 

     Tips:

• The early bird catches the worm. So get out there early. Check for sunrise timings or ask the locals.
• You need to hire the Forest Department’s boat to spot the turtles out in the open sea.
•  Avoid May-July monsoon months
•  Best time to view – November-December or April
•  Take food as it’s far from the main town
• Don’t forget the binoculars

      Reaching There:

• It’s very close to the Kozhikode International airport, 23 km.
•  Take the first KSRTC bus out at 6 am from Kozhikode KSRTC bus station, it’s  11 km journey to Beypore which is 7 km away
•  Get off at Feroke railway station, it’s around 25 minutes by auto from there

Visiting Nilambur

Nilambur is Sanskrit for Place of Nilimba (Bamboo).                      
     
On Offer: Nedumkayam forest is part of the proteted Nilgiri biosphere. Prior permission is required to set foot in it. Contact - 04931-220392/220307

You can see in the rain forests:

• Deer and elephants
• Elephant taming cage   
• Old British wooden resthouse for animal gazing
• 1938 Old Iron Bridge entrance to reserve constructed by Britisher E.S.Dawson                            
• Cherupuzha river
• Chailyar river near the town of Nilambur
• 1842 Canolly Plot, teak plantation named after Malabar Collector H.V. Canolly
• Adyanpaara Waterfalls - 14 km from Nilambur town
• Teak Museum - 4 km from Nilambur town with 100 year old teak specimens
• Bamboo 
• Koyippara Hills

How to Reach:

• By air - Kozhikode's International airport - 45 km
• Private taxi from airport would be Rs.600 approx
• Take a bus from Kozhikode KSRTC stand would be the cheapest

Getting around in Kerala – Bus It

The local bus, pale shade colour, is driven like a Ferrari at breakneck speed. But it’s worth the ride. Sheer fun. The crowd ensures you never ever lose your balance in all that speed. And when it halts, the conductor is quick to lend a hand if you need it. I’ve personally seen a conductor shoot out his arm to literally hold up a lady who had stepped right into a pothole getting off. And Yes, that’s another thing. There are bus stops but the bus also stops where there are no bus stops! This is a characteristic of any metro city in South India. 

But what I’ve not seen anywhere else is that the local bus doors are not entry/exit. They’re basically male/female. Women are supposed to enter by the front/back but not both. That means, if it’s from the front and you being a lady get in from the back door, you will get yelled at and glared at. Don’t bother. Just do what’s convenient. Getting a seat is possible at the starting point, but gender rules, here, too. Men sit on one side, women on the other. 

Bag and baggage are allowed and not charged extra. The locals are helpful so you can ask which bus heads where. So long as you know the destination, the conductor will tell you when and where to get off.

Accomodation in Thekkady - Rangerwood Nature Castle

Rangerwood Nature Castle is located bang outside the Periyar Tiger Reserve entrance gate. Besides the hotel. they’ve also got on lease an adjacent multi-storeyed building which acts as an annexe to the main hotel and offers the same service.

You will get a really stunning view from the Wild View Nature room on the first floor as the hotel directly overlooks the back of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. 

The hotel does not provide separate beds, but a single bed is very wide so just fine.

Rangerwood Nature Castle Wild View Nature Room

Rangerwood Nature Castle Wild View Nature Room

Despite the Periyar reserve and construction down the road as they plan to build an extension, there no mosquitoes to trouble you as netting covers entire ground floor side.

The Restaurant is beautifully laid out with a warm setting and clean and comfy. They have taken the trouble to have different flowers in every vase on the table. The service is a tad slow as the breakfast buffet counter took a while to open and some of the items on the menu are unavailable.

Rangerwood Nature Castle Restaurant

Rangerwood Nature Castle Restaurant

The menu is disappointing as Kerala cuisine is hardly catered to.  

Rangerwood Nature Castle Restaurant Menu

Rangerwood Nature Castle Restaurant Menu

Rangerwood Nature Castle Restaurant Menu

Rangerwood Nature Castle Restaurant Menu

Room service is very good and the food comes covered on a tray.The curd rice is the best and the phulkas nice and soft. The traditional Kerala veggie Thoran was finally served for dinner on request.

Rangerwood Nature Castle Room Service Food

 But housekeeping is indifferent. 

No noise save for the rooster at 4 am. Around 6 am becomes distinctly warmer, maybe some machine gets switched off but since it’s a cool area and wonderful comfortable room, doesn’t irritate.

They offer Ayurveda packages at Ayurthejus:

·         Kalari rejuvenation massage

·         Shirodhara where oil drips on the forehead to refresh the head and brain

·         Podikkizhi to reduce pain and inflammation where medicinal bags or balis heated in medicinal oil are used on the body after a massage

They also offer training in massage therapies:

Contact:ayurthejus@gmail.com

Tip

Try and get the first floor rooms. First floor means on the same level as reception where the Wild View Nature rooms are located. 

Rangerwood Nature Castle Wild View Nature Room View Balcony

The ground floor is below the reception. The ground floor is where the Wild View rooms are situated. The suites or Wild View Pavilion as they’re called are on the second floor, so that’s the elevated view. 

Rangerwood Nature Castle Storeys

Contact Information:

Santosh Kumar – Mobile -  91 9495-748914 
Landline Ph: 91-4869224044

Email: manager@rangerwoodperiyar.com

Elephant Pageants Kerala

The Kanjiramottam Nercha Celebration will be organised on January 15th, 2012. Kodikuthu is the festival celebrated at Kanjiramottam mosque that is a memorial to Sheikh Fariduddin.

The Chandanakkudam ritual involves pilgrims carrying on their heads at night earthern pots smeared with chandan (sandalwood paste) as they proceed to the mosque. They are accompanied by a procession of 6 ornately caparisoned elephants.

Folk Performances

• Duffmuttu - Dance to the beat of the traditional duff or daf while singing  Islamic songs
• Kolkalli - a dance that draws from the martial art form of Kalarippayattu. Dancers move in small steps to the rhythm they create beating small sticks. It begins in an expanded circle that draws close as the beat reaches a crescendo. 

Getting There: It is 25  km from Ernakulum railway station and 45 km from Kochi international airport.

Sightseeing Nearby:  Fort Kochi 

Adoor Gajamela festival is on February 2nd, 2012.In Sanskrit, Gaja = elephant, Mela = fair so Gajamela means Elephant Fair.

Adoor Gajamela, the pageant of elephants, is held annually on the last day of the ten day festival at Sree Parthasarathy temple at Adoor in Pathanamthitta district.

The Parthasarathy temple, facing east with a pond in front, is consecrated to Lord Krishna, who was Parathasarthy, charioteer to Partha who is Arjun, in the epic battle Kurukshetra in the Mahabharata. The presiding deity of Lord Krishna is in the form of Vishwaroopa that was manifest to Arjun when he faltered on the battlefield unwilling to take up arms against his elders.

Gajamela is the magnificent culmination of the 10 day festival. Mahouts seated under silken umbrellas called muthukuda decorated with white tufts and peacock feathers lead a spectacular procession of 9 caparisoned elephants adorned with glittering jewellery to the priests’ chant of the Vedas. The procession sways its way from the premises of the Parthasarathy temple and ending at Chennapatti temple which is 3 km from Adoor. Elephants from all over the state vie for the title of Gajarajappattam, the King of elephants.

The temple also celebrates Ashtamirohini – birth of Krishna during which traditional art forms are performed.

Dances during Ashtamirohini:

1.     Parichamuttukali- martial arts become part of this folk dance

2.     Mayooranritham – Peacock dance

3.     Ammandudam and Velakali – celebrate ancient warfare

4.     Ottanthullal – a satirical form of Kathakali usually with a single character played by an artiste in a green mask reciting the thullal dance songs.

5.     Panchavadyam – a temple art form of an orchestra of 5 musical instruments. 4 percussion instruments of timila, maddalam, ilathalam, idakka and the wind instrument kombu

Getting There

·      Bus is the best way as Parthasarathy temple is located near Adoor KSRTC bus stand

·      Chengannur railway station is the nearest rail head, about 25 km away.

·      Adoor is 92 km from Thiruvanthapuram airport

Sightseeing Nearby

·      The idyllic backwaters of Allapuzha (Allepey) and Kumarakom

·      Capital city of Thiruvanthapuram and Kovalam beach

    

Musician King's Palace at Thiruvanthapuram

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum

Officially named the Puthen Malika Palace Museum, this palace was home to Swathi Thirunal, the famed statesman, social reformer and musician who ruled Travancore. The courtyard hosts the Swathi Sangeethotsavam in his memory every year.

122 horses carved into the wall brackets of the southern roof gives this museum dating from the 1840s, its popular name Kuthira Malika - Mansion of Horses


On display is the collection of the royal Travancore family

• Traditional Kerala architectural style of curving roofs, enclosed courtyards, overhanging eaves. The first floor retains the alcove where Swathi Thirunal composed his music, a library and an audience chamber
• Swati Thirunal's ivory throne and Bohemiam crystal throne with the Travancore conch emblem on the backrest
• Swati Thirunal being a connoisseur of music, a collection of rare musical instruments
• Belgian chandeliers
• Kathakali manequins with ivory cradles on either side
• Jewellery of the royal family
• White marble sculptures and idols
• Artefacts from China
• A painting that creates an illusion that Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma is staring at you wherever you go and his shoes like the portrait's gaze follows you wherever you go. The master who painted it? None other than Svetoslav Roerich, nephew of the famed Nicholas Roerich. More of his paintings are on display at Napier Museum's Sri Chitra Art Gallery.

Timings: Open Tuesday to Saturday daily 8:30 am to 1 noon, 3 pm to 5:30 pm  

How to Reach: It is at the East Fort side of Thiruvanthapuram, near the Padmanabhaswamy temple. The Thiruvanthapuram Central railway station is just a km away, while the Thirvanthapuram airport is 6 km away.

Music Festival in Thiruvanthapuram

Swati Sangeethotsvam

Starting today, 6^th January to 12^th January 6, 2012

Venue – Kuthiramalika palace at Thiruvanthapuram

History – In memory of Travancore’s Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1813 – 1826), patron of the arts and musicians as well as a composer of Hindustani and Carnatic music.

Organised by – Travancore Trust

Schedule – 6 pm to 9 pm daily live performances 

The month of January sees musicians perform Carnatic and Hindustani compositions including those of Maharaja Thirunal at the music festival in  Thiruvanthapuram.

7^th January – Concert by the patron Shri Rama Varma

8^th January - Concert by Bangalore Shri S. Shankar

9^th January - Concert by Professor Venkataramanan

10^th January - Concert by Master G. Abhilash

11^th January - Smt Abhradita Banerjee will perform Hindustani bhajans composed by Maharaja Thirunal.

12^th January - Concert by Akkarai Sisters Subhalakshmi and Sornalatha

Contact Information:

Shri Rama Varma

Kawadiar Palace

Thiruvanthapuram 695003

Also in Thiruvanthapuram:

Napier Museum Complex

Keralam

Poonjar Palace

History of Poonjar Dynasty

The rajas (kings) of Poonjar are associated with Travancore royalty – 
Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma who ruled Travancore from 1880 to 1885, got his youngest daughter, Bhageerathi Pillai Kochamma married Sri Rama Varma of the Poonjar royal family. The Poonjar royal family leased 125,000 acres of land to Thomas Munro, a British planter in 1877. This is the Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company lease which passed to the Finlays in the 1930s and thence to Tata Tea Company in 1950s. Now the Poonjar royal family trust is in legal dispute to recover their land as the lease has now expired.

Poonjar Palace

The 600 year old Poonjar palace made largely of wood retains its traditional structure in its curved walls and interiors awash with frescoes and paintings and its gently sloped roof. Step inside and a museum gives a glimpse into the life of yore.

Poonjar Palace Museum artefacts:

·    Droni, the bed used in the traditional Ayurveda treatment carved out of a single piece of wood

·      Palanquins

·      Chandeliers

·      Jewel boxes

·      Palm leaf engravings

·      Grain measures used in cooking

·      Lamps

·      Sculptures of Nataraja (dancing Shiva)

·      Weapons

·      Unique Conch that’s brought out once a year for traditional rituals

Adjacent to the palace is a replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple.

There is a history behind the construction of this temple. Manavikrama Kulshekhara Perumal, the founder of the Poonjar dynasty left Madurai in Tamil Nadu after incessant civil war there. He crossed over to Kerala carrying with him one of the three idols of Meenakshi, their family deity (kula devta). It was consecrated in the Meenakshi Temple on the banks of Meenachil river. This is a river that flows over 87 km, through Erattupetta, Ettumanoor, Kidangoor, Kottayam and Palai. Near Kottayam it hives off into distributaries till it becomes one with Vembanad lake in Kumarakom.

Sculptures that reflect tales from ancient Puranas adorn its walls. Rare rock cut lamps can be seen here, called Chuttuvilakku (row of lamps) carved out of the nearby Sastha temple’s stone walls.

Getting There:

• Poonjar is a small town in Kottayam.
• Kottayam Railway Station 45 km
• Eratupetta/Pala bus station 30 km
• Kochi airport 80 km

Accomodation in Munnar - Review of Tea Castle

Tea Castle is in the old town of Munnar, called Chithirapuram so it means it’s an uphill drive so view is more breathtaking than hotels closer to market. 

Tea Castle Chitirapuram Munnar - 9th floor View

180 degree panoramic view from restaurant also. 

Tea Castle Chithirapuram Munnar - 10th Floor Restaurant View

Tea Castle Chithirapuram Munnar - 10th Floor Restaurant View

We were on 9^th floor so just below restaurant and had view of the winding road amidst tea plantations as well as the hills beyond. It’s a superb view.

The bathroom is the cleanest and best we experienced, no fancy twists and turns to get the water to flow. An extra steel sink outside is a boon. Tea coffee maker with electric kettle in deluxe room.

Tea Castle Chithirapuram Munnar - 9th Floor Room

Tea Castle Chithirapuram Munnar - 9th Floor Room

Staff is very good, courteous and warm, both room service, reception and restaurant. 

They offer a la carte and buffet in the restaurant. Jeera rice was Rs.70; Vegetable curry Rs.70; Phulka was Rs.5 for one. The complimentary breakfast had the widest array of items from wada, idli, uthappa with sambar, bread toast, omelette, cornflakes with milk, tea, coffee and juice.

Tea Castle - Restaurant

Drawbacks

• Tea Castle is near the tea plantation and factory but far from market area and Mattupetty dam if you're keen on sightseeing but Munnar is for doing nothing so the hotel is ideally suited. 
• The food quality could improve.

• There were small roaches but only in the wooden cupboards. Glass topped table and 3 chairs can be used to put baggage on so that roaches don’t trouble. Pest Control required as others may not be so tolerant of roaches but Kerala is a place where there will be insects because it's cheek by jowl with nature.