Neeleshwar Hermitage

“For the rest of your life ! We found paradise!”

This is a difficult review to write, as I am not sure my vocabulary contains enough superlatives to do this resort justice. I am going to take my time and write a detailed review, as it feels like the only way to repay such an incredible place for giving us such a wonderful stay. The resort is sim… more

This is a difficult review to write, as I am not sure my vocabulary contains enough superlatives to do this resort justice. I am going to take my time and write a detailed review, as it feels like the only way to repay such an incredible place for giving us such a wonderful stay. The resort is simply stunning. It is not the easiest place to reach, given its location on a beautiful, pristine beach in northern Kerala, with a calm, warm sea that is perfect for swimming, although at times it can be a little rough. Thankfully, a clear flag system lets you know when it is safe. Whether you walk, swim, take a train, or fly, just make sure you get there. This tranquil and remarkable resort has a very high return rate. Many guests we spoke to had visited several times before, and it is not difficult to understand why. The only sounds you hear are the waves, crickets, frogs, cuckoos, and a variety of birds. It is pure serenity. We stayed for five nights in a stunning beachfront bungalow with uninterrupted sea views, apart from the rather inconveniently beautiful gardens that you are forced to peer through, which only seem to make the whole scene even more perfect. We also had a private plunge pool with a jacuzzi and waterfall. When we first saw the accommodation, it quite literally took our breath away. The air conditioned room was filled with the fresh scent of lemongrass and was beautifully designed, comfortable, and tastefully furnished, with a large and exceptionally comfortable bed. The open air bathroom connected directly to the plunge pool, which was far larger than we had expected, adding to the sense of luxury. From the bed, you look out over lush gardens, swaying palms, and onto the beach and the Arabian Sea beyond. What truly makes this resort special is the staff. They cannot do enough for you and somehow seem to anticipate your needs before you even realise them yourself. Every member of the team greeted us with warm smiles and genuine kindness, and very quickly they felt more like friends than staff. A special mention to Ajeesh, who looked after us most evenings, an absolute star, and a shout out to Avinash with his infectious laugh. Their, and indeed every member of staff’s, only aim was to please, and they succeeded every single time. It was a genuine pleasure to see them each day. The food was consistently excellent. As we are not particularly fond of strong cumin, coriander, or overly spiced dishes, the chef kindly adjusted everything to suit our tastes and even checked in with us to see if there was anything else he could improve. Every meal was superb. I had wondered whether I might struggle with purely local dishes, but not here. One dish in particular became my absolute favourite, so much so that it made a repeat appearance by request, chicken kadai, which was outstanding. A wonderful breakfast on the beach every morning was a real treat, we also chose to dine at the beachside restaurant each evening, and I challenge anyone to find a more beautiful setting. Swaying coconut palms, sand beneath your feet, candlelight, the sound of the waves, and a gentle sea breeze made every dinner unforgettable. The resort also features a beautiful infinity pool with very comfortable sunbeds, set among lush vegetation and overlooking both a natural pool and the beach. Morning yoga at 7.30 in an open beachfront pavilion was a highlight, led by the wonderful Dr Shathi, whose calm, soothing voice could probably melt icebergs. One experience not to miss is the early morning traditional canoe ride through the mangroves with the ever enthusiastic Vinodan, who has an incredible ability to spot even the tiniest kingfisher hiding in the bushes. The 45 minute journey, departing from just outside the beach restaurant, was peaceful and scenic, with sightings of kingfishers, herons, eagles, and cuckoos in a truly stunning natural setting. There is also a lovely on site shop offering high quality handicrafts, paintings, clothing, and brassware at very reasonable prices. An in house tailor even recreated one of my shirts within 24 hours from a wide choice of fabrics. It is important to understand that this resort is designed for relaxation. I am not someone who finds it easy to switch off, and I did wonder whether five nights might be a stretch. I need not have worried. If you cannot relax here, you simply cannot relax anywhere. The Priya Ayurvedic Spa is excellent. I had an incredible head massage, and there is a wide range of treatments available. The resort is off the beaten track, so there is little to do nearby, although the hotel does offer excursions to local temples and backwater boat trips. Bicycles are also available to explore the surrounding villages, which we really enjoyed. My only minor criticism is that there was little in the way of evening entertainment during or after dinner. Some cultural music or dance performances would have been a welcome addition as we have seen in other resorts. However, we were informed that these do take place earlier in the season, and their absence during our stay was simply due to the time of year. Even so, it did not detract from what was otherwise an exceptional experience. We were told that all guests become part of the resort’s extended family, and something quite unexpected happened when it was time to leave. As the staff lined up to wave us goodbye, my wife and I both shed a few tears. We were genuinely sad to leave, which is something we have never experienced anywhere else. A final thank you as well to the front office team, all of whom were wonderful, Jayan, Jeesi (I hope I have that right). If I have missed anyone out, I apologise, as everyone was equally deserving of recognition, including the housekeeping team and all those working behind the scenes who help make everything run so seamlessly. There is so much more I could write, but I think you get the idea. Without hesitation, this is one of the most beautiful and memorable resorts we have ever stayed in, and we are already planning our return.

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“An oasis overlooking the Arabian Sea”

My wife says she will kill me if I give anything less than 5 stars so this review is all about self preservation. We arrived at the Hermitage after a gruelling 3 locations in 10 days. We had safaried , bird watched , nature walked, etc etc and selected the Hermitage to relax unwind and recharge our… more

My wife says she will kill me if I give anything less than 5 stars so this review is all about self preservation. We arrived at the Hermitage after a gruelling 3 locations in 10 days. We had safaried , bird watched , nature walked, etc etc and selected the Hermitage to relax unwind and recharge our batteries. On arrival we were met with the wide smile of the general manager who briefed us as to the resort’s facilities and quickly moved on to the “additional “ options. However his smile began to wane when we confirmed our stay was recuperative and our aim was to do absolutely nothing. The cabin we were allocated was adequate and faced the ocean. Its plunge pool was most welcome in the heat of the afternoon . Breakfast on the beach was memorable as was the service throughout. A special thanks to Surahbi who was a joy. The food was definitely the best we had in India despite our stay at some excellent 5 star resorts. Finally the swimming pool is second to none. It is large and overlooks the sea . So to sum up would I recommend the Hermitage ? Yes I would to those seeking to chill out . Would I return ? Possibly not but then the world is a very big place. Thankfully I have saved my wife from matricide.

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“4 days of bliss!”

We stayed here at the end of our trip to Kerala, and definitely left the best till last. There is no doubt the hotel is in the most idyllic location, and the food is amazing, but without the fabulous team behind it all, we wouldn’t have had the wonderful, unforgettable 4 days that we did. We renew… more

We stayed here at the end of our trip to Kerala, and definitely left the best till last. There is no doubt the hotel is in the most idyllic location, and the food is amazing, but without the fabulous team behind it all, we wouldn’t have had the wonderful, unforgettable 4 days that we did. We renewed our wedding vows by the beach with the whole staff smiling on, and this was all thanks to Jayan and others who made it so special. Dreams do come true, stay here, you won’t regret it!

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“Outstanding five night stay”

NH deserves the extensive plaudits it receives on TA. Rooms are large, with lovely covered terrace, and very comfortable beds. Everything works! Strongly recommend the bird watching and village tours. The pool has a magnificent setting, is large and warm. Food is very good. Staff go over and beyond… more

NH deserves the extensive plaudits it receives on TA. Rooms are large, with lovely covered terrace, and very comfortable beds. Everything works! Strongly recommend the bird watching and village tours. The pool has a magnificent setting, is large and warm. Food is very good. Staff go over and beyond, Jeese, Ayeesh and Sanju took excellent care of us. We have stayed in a number of seaside properties in India, and undoubtedly Neeleshwar Hermitage is one of, if not the best.

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