Brunton Boatyard - CGH Earth

For what is essentially a small and intimate city hotel, The Brunton Boatyard possesses a remarkable sense of scale, evident the moment you turn into the tiled forecourt.The lobby is a vault of sunlight and air, framed by arches and overhung with punkahs - enormous, old-fashioned fans of Indo-Portuguese origin.

The hotel's nautical past seems to follow you around. On one wall, old Dutch maps, on another, a small navigation device, in the courtyard lawns, an ancient anchor. Walk further, turn a corner, and you find yourself outside the Armory Bar. Perhaps later, you could enjoy a sundowner here, with old Portuguese breastplates and musketry for company.

A short saunter down the corridor brings you to a little doorway. Pass through and suddenly, the whole vista of Cochin harbour opens up beyond the pool's inviting waters. This is the spot to read a boring historical novel, work on your tan and watch the ships sail by, so close you can almost reach out and touch them. Crane your neck a bit and you can spot a serried rank of Cochin's famed fishing nets. They first made their appearance in 1350 a.d. and their much-photographed preying-mantis shapes form one of the city's most enduring images.

Also near the pool is the hotel's jetty, and a word at the reception gets you a variety of cruising options to choose from. The heritage of Cochin is most evident around its enormous harbour, and this is a not-to-be-missed experience.

The Brunton Boatyard Hotel is your chance to dine from, literally, a melting pot. All the cultures that came to the Malabar Coast over three centuries can be sampled in a single evening. For if they came to carry away spice, they also brought a host of new culinary ideas, evolving over the years into a fusion cuisine dating from centuries before the term became fashionable..

To the basic melody of black pepper, ginger and cardamom, each group that came to Kerala added a counterpoint of its own. The Portuguese came to trade in spice, but left behind the ' Indian' red chili. The Syrian Christians brought a variety of meat dishes, specially stews, that co-incidentally, tasted fabulous with the local string hoppers. The Jews found coriander both Kosher and delicious, so into the pot it went. And Dutch puddings were found to benefit greatly from a spot of fresh cinnamon.
At the History Restaurant, these cuisines have been given a new lease of life, recreated faithfully each evening by chefs who did their research in the best place possible - with the old families of Cochin

Situated in the heart of history, all the sights and sounds of Fort Cochin are just a walk away. You could also swim, overeat, play billiards, get an Ayurvedic massage or (we highly recommend this) relax completely and let your mind and body renew themselves.

The most comprehensive Ayurvedic facilities in the Group are to be found at Kalari Kovilakom Palace, our destination for full Ayurvedic treatments. These cover anti-stress, weight loss, beauty and anti-ageing, complete with authentic kitchens, diet and other therapies, such as Yoga and meditation.

Of course, practically every other CGH Property also offers Ayurveda. Most have ayuvedic centres, massage rooms,doctors and expert masseuses. Many of the healing packages available at Kalari are also available at our other destinations, in periods ranging from a few days to several weeks.