Description
The Shalimar Spice Garden is accessed by a series of steps leading to the wooden walkway which brings you to the hotel. It comprises of 15 rooms made up of 7 Elegant Cottages and 6 rooms. The cottages come in clusters of 3 or 4 and are surrounded by lush foliage of coffee, cardamom and other spice plants. The rooms are not air conditioned; yet remain cool throughout the year. All rooms have en suite bathrooms and have a small garden and a hammock outside. The rooms are simple, yet stylish.
There is a small restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also a nice swimming pool (5m x 12m), shop, small spa with two treatment rooms, offering all traditional Ayurvedic treatments and massage and sitting room with a TV and board games.
Activities in the local area include excursions to the nearby Periyar National Park where you view game by boat, trekking and walking with a guide in the surrounding spice plantations, visits to a tea factory and tribal villages, bamboo rafting and night walks.
Accommodation
15 Rooms - 7 Elegant Cottages and 6 Rooms
Childcare
Children are welcome at the Shalimar Spice Garden. Children may be accommodated in their parent’s bedroom for an extra charge. Only one additional child per room is permitted. A babysitting service is available upon request.
Facilities
Services at the resort include money changing, medium sized unheated pool, Internet and WiFi in designated areas, a small conference hall, spice garden, shop selling jewellery, clothes and artefacts, spa with two treatment rooms, offering all traditional Ayurvedic treatments and massage, a cosy sitting area with a log fire and a TV room with board games.
Activities
Activities in the local area include excursions to the nearby Periyar National Park which is home to tigers, Indian elephants, gaur, Bison, sambar (horse deer), barking deer, mouse deer, Dholes (Indian wild dogs), mongoose, foxes and leopards. You can also go trekking and walking with a guide in the surrounding spice plantations, visits to a tea factory, bamboo rafting, night walks and visit to tribal villages.
Services
Sightseeing excursions can be arranged on site by contacting the hotel reception. Onward transport to other destinations, spice walks and a babysitting service are also on offer.
When to travel
Isolated from much of India by the Western Ghats, the climate of Kerala & Karnataka is tropical and as a result of the mountain ranges the area isn’t as dry as much of India. The best time to visit is from April through June. While there can be the occasional light showers these are just a prelude of the wet weather to come. The weather is generally hot and humid during this early summer. The monsoon season arrives in late June and thus can wash out July and August. September is much more humid as a result of the rainy season, and the fall can be dry but with the humidity this makes it feel quite the warm. The temperatures cool down and the humidity lets up as winter comes in around December, with this season lasting until February when the dry spring returns. Winter can be a pleasant time to visit, especially if you’re looking to head off the beach and explore this Indian land of mystery.
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Best time to visit
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Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Thekkady, India
Shalimar Spice Garden is located in a village called Murikkady, surrounded by Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. 6km from Thekkady and easily accessible from Cochin (180km/4.5 hours away) and Madurai (140km/3 hours away).
How to get there
13-hour flight (1 change) to Cochin International Airport. Cochin is the nearest airport to Shalimar Spice Garden, the drive from there takes around 4.5-hours.
