Shalimar Spice Garden - An Amritara Private Hideaway

Built on a verdant land unscathed by city life interruptions,the Shalimar Spice Garden is ideal for a secluded tranquil retreat. It is a perfect blend of European and Indian life styles set in the rich heritage of Kerala. The resort merges with the spice gardens that surrounds it and borders the verdant landscapes of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The architecture of the cottages is a fusion of Indian sensibilities with that of Western luxury. 

With its natural environment and ambience, Shalimar is the perfect place to feel at one with with nature. You will feel time coming to a standstill as you soak in the beauty around. A gentle mountain stream meanders through the property and a wooden bridge built over the stream connects the resort to the outside world. 

"Falling Leaves" is laid out with antique Kerala wooden furniture. The décor imparts a homely air to the place. The staff, easily accessible, work hard to please your palate. The chef conjures up excellent Italian, Continental, Indian and Kerala cuisine.

The Red Lounge is an ideal place to kick back and unwind with a drink, while watching the crackling fire in the fire place.

Shalimar Spice Garden provides the perfect environment and the facilities to rejuvenate your mind and body. There are qualified ayurveda doctors and well-trained masseurs, both men and women at the resort. The patient has to consult the Ayurveda Doctor at the resort to start with. Depending on the recommendations of the doctor, the treatment is carried out for specific ailments if any. 

 Shalimar Spice Garden, has numerous spices and ayuverdic plants. The coffee pepper and cardamoms used at the resorts are all freshly ground. The Reception maybe called for bookings.

Starting from Shalimar Spice Garden this walk is a long nature walk where you will go through narrow pathways, through an open vegetation and finally walk on the outskirts of Murikkadi, the village surrounding Shalimar Spice Garden.

Around Shalimar Spice Garden, this walk mainly covers unpaved roads between spice fields & other crop fields. It includes some very beautiful panoramas also with an exotic view of Tamil Nadu

The sought after Meenakshi Temple, South India biggest temple; and the different small temples of Madurai are spiritual elevating and  are shopping as well. On the way back you can see the Vaiga Dam, vegetable farm, vineyards, etc.

India's Biggest Arch Dam opens only for 15 days during Onam Holidays (August/September). Boating facilities are also available.

Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, is an example of nature's bounty, with great scenic charm, rich bio diversity and providing veritable satisfaction to every visitor. Sprawled over an area of 777 Sq .km., Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. People oriented and park centred community based ecotourism is the hallmark of Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Different nature trails traversing diverse habitats form the trekking routes that are generally 4 to 5 km long. This is a 3 hours interpretive programme offering excellent opportunity to watch birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous forests interspersed with marshy grasslands.

This programme is part of the regular night patrolling in the fringe eco-development zones of the tiger reserve. People capable of a trek through the wilderness may go. Two protection watchers and one-armed forest guard will accompany them.Try the this exotic experience of the wilderness.

This is a conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day. The trekking starts at 8 o’ clock in the morning and ends in the evening.  The route passes through undulating terrains. Altitudinal ranges of 900 meters to 1300 meters will be covered and the trekkers could glimpse the lofty escarpments bordering the park watershed and the vast plains down below. Gaur, sloth bear, elephant, etc. are often sighted along this route apart from birds and butterflies. The trekkers will go with two guides and an armed forest guard.

Three hour trek to the Kurushumala hills, guided by the tribal guides. This also involves trek through the forest and tribal village visit.

This is a dawn to dusk range hiking and rafting programme through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Starting at 8 am from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos. The forests are rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant squirrel and Nilgiri langur. The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake.

Visit the farmlands and the slow pace of the village life hidden in the valley behind the mountains of Periyar Tiger Reserve in a bullock cart.  The village is rich in bird diversity. With vineyards, diverse agricultural crops of mangoes, tamarind, onions, sunflower, jasmine and a score of other vegetables, the village is sure to astound you.

The Programme involves mainly the tribal museum visit and trekking through the tribal hamlet situated within the periphery of Periyar Tiger Reserve accompanied by a tribal guide.

Booking is not possible for the current day, advance booking for the succeeding day can be done  at Rs.500/- per head. If the ticket is not booked, then those interested should leave from the hotel at least 1 & half hour before the scheduled time of the boating during season (October to March). 

Should leave from the hotel 15 minutes before.

Half hour with Elephant, including  ride, photo session etc. Two and Half hour with Elephant (150 min) - 30 minutes ride in the spice plantation, elephant bath, timber dragging (demo), feeding.

Kathakali is a dancing theatre created, 300 years ago, out of age old traditions. Kathakali has attracted great directors, actors and storytellers into Kerala for many years. October to March two shows are performed daily. 

Kalarippayattu is a martial art originated in ancient South India. Kung-fu, popularized by the monks of Shoaling Temple traces its ancestry to Bodhi Dharma, an Indian Buddhist monk and Kalarippayattu master.A performance may of the same may be arranged.

Those interested should leave from the hotel 40 minutes before for this guided tour.

Gavi programme involves a close interaction with the flora and fauna of the Western Ghats, and provides excellent trails through the midst of the evergreen forests to the camping sites at Meaner and Valley view. The trails passes through dense patches of forests where even at mid-day sunlight hardly penetrates through the canopy, where Elephants roam free, and where you can truly meet nature in all its majesty and glory.

This sleepy little village with its breathtaking view of the plains and cascading waterfalls is a feast for the naturalist in any one.

Grampi is also known as Eagle rock because of the panoramic view from its high peaks. Rock plains, lush hillside, forests and picturesque views lend charm to this destination.

Shalimar Spice Garden is located in a village called Murikkady, 6 kms from Thekkady on the fringes of the world- famous Periyar Tiger Reserve.