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A BOUTIQUE HOMESTAY
Anugraha is an elegant homestay in Aymanam, in the central Kerala district of Kottayam. Located near the popular lakefront tourist spot of Kumarakom, this house along the Meenachil River backwaters is an ode to slow living, Keralan hospitality and the natural splendours of this tropical travel destination.
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THE VILLA

Guests will stay in an independent villa, attended by two members of the house-staff. We take just one booking at a time, in order to ensure guests have our full attention and care. Think of a stay at Anugraha as a holiday visit to a friend's home in the Kerala countryside.

The Villa is a heritage home, constructed more than a century ago. It was restored under the direction of architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai and styled with contemporary art from the family's private collection, and an edit of design objects.

There's plenty of quiet and privacy when you prefer, but when you'd rather not be alone then we invite you to take in the sights and sounds of the thriving estate, which is inhabited by the family that runs Anugraha, and includes their three dogs, Google, Zuma and Pepper. The 7.5 - acre property is punctuated by canals, a pond, vegetable garden, many varieties of tropical fruit trees, hardwoods, bamboo, and various kinds of ferns, designed and laid out by award-winning landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith.
A literary factoid: Aymanam village is the setting of Arundhati Roy's 1997 Booker Prize-winning novel The God of Small Things.
Being in the tropical countryside, there are charming multilegged creatures everywhere; they mean no harm and they are an essential part of the life cycle of our part of the world.
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FACILITIES

The Villa can house up to six people, between a Master Bedroom with a Queen-size bed, and the Attic Room, which has a Queen-size bed and two single beds, plus an en suite bathroom. While public areas like the living and dining rooms do not have air-conditioning, the bedrooms are airconditioned. And there's WIFI, of course. The property is perfectly suited for a couple, a family of four or six, or a party of six.

A bathroom enclosure on the ground floor is open-roofed and designed for separate but common use among the guests staying the villa.

The home also has a little study room and a well-appointed kitchen.

DINING

At Anugraha, we serve traditional Keralan food in the style of the Syrian Christian community, to which the homeowners belong. The food of our region can be deliciously vegan, with the generous use of coconut, rice and vegetables, or the complete opposite, with plenty of seafood and beef. It can be as spicy as it should be, or as spicy as you prefer. Please let us know at the time of reservation if you have any particular restrictions, and we will do our best to accommodate requests.

Those who wish to cook occasionally may do so, and we are happy to advise. You may use anything from the organic kitchen garden, which has seasonal herbs and vegetables throughout the year. The larder is well-stocked with the basics (milk, bread, eggs) plus a wide choice of teas, and coffee.

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THINGS TO DO

The property has a swimming pool that is suitable for adults and children. It is located within a pool house that also contains a massage room where, upon request, we can arrange for a traditional therapeutic Keralan massage.

The vast greens of the property and the village offer great prospects for long walks, and birdwatching.

Villa Anugraha is located along the backwaters, within some of the most beautiful boating routes in the state. Take a languorous ride along the canals in a snake boat, captained by a local boatman.

Birds are the constant background choir of this estate. If you'd like to see the songsters then there are plenty of opportunities to sight families of kingfisher, schoolboy warbler, woodpecker, egret, duck, heron, Brahminy eagle, and many other species.

GETTING HERE

The airport nearest to us is the Cochin International Airport, which is 2.5 hours away. Upon request, we can arrange for pick-up and drop-off to the airport.

GET IN TOUCH

For more information and further details, please write to contact@anugrahakerala.com or give us a call on +9194956 31122.

Follow us on Instagram via @anugrahakerala.

ADDRESS

Anugraha Puthenpurayil

Prapuzha Kadavu

Pulikkuttissery PO

Aimanam.

Kottayam 686015

Kerala, India

CREDIT

We are grateful to our friends who photographed Anugraha: Ashish Sahi, Derry Moore, and Wei Leng Tay.