RIVER LODGE: Teal & Mustard Room

The TEAL & MUSTARD ROOM is one of our two RIVER PANORAMA ROOMS, on the first floor with magnificent 360° views of the river and a loo-with-a-view. Soothing blue oxide floor off sets the antique dresser. Warm sunlight pours in through the old style glass windows and double door. The sliding doors to the balcony frame the river and lawns postcard like. A spacious bathroom with luscious views completes your sunny summer stay. River Lodge is located on the banks of the river Periyar in the region of this old port city of Muziris. At the site, the Periyar is just a few km from the sea, mingling with backwater canals & lagoons with untainted rural Kerala landscape on its banks. Featuring 150 meters of riverfront, 7 river facing bedrooms, infinity edge swimming pool, an Ayurvedic spa, boat jetty etc. Located on the banks of the River Periyar, the homestay has long river views and interior/ exterior spaces seamlessly blending into one another. The architectural style is inspired by the Indo - Dutch language of Kerala Architecture that is seen all over Kochi region - notably the Paliyam Palace where the Maharaja of Kochi stayed which is one the famous buildings in the vicinity. This allows a double storeyed structure with luxuriant colonnaded verandahs all around. Located on 1.5 acres of land with 150 meters of riverfront, every room enjoys long views of Kerala’s largest and longest river, the perennial Periyar which is the state’s source for not just drinking water and hydroelectric power, but an inspiration for many a poet and writer. At the site of the holiday home, the Periyar is just a few km from the sea, mingling with backwater canals and lagoons with the untainted rural Kerala landscape on its banks. FACILITIES: ~ 7 river facing bedrooms, each with a veranda & bathroom with attached open-courts ~ 20 meter infinity edge swimming pool ~ Small Ayurvedic spa ~ Library and lounge with river views ~ Indoor dining areas to seat 20 people ~ Al-fresco dining by the river ~ Boat jetty, landing area, boats, kayaks ~ Bicycles ~ Mini amphitheater for art performances ~ Car parking River Lodge is a labour of love. Rasmi, Vineeth & their daughters Tanvi & Tia moved to Kerala in (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) to give shape to the place they had been dreaming about for years. Rasmi & Vineeth are MBA’s from IIM Bangalore and XLRI Jamshedpur respectively and between them have almost three decades of experience working at large corporations in various metros in India. Rasmi’s connection with the region began in (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) when her work in the area of conserving and revitalizing the traditional craft of handloom in Kerala brought her to the village across the river, Chendamangalam, one of the traditional centres of excellence of a craft that is now quickly perishing. For Vineeth, this is the region of his ancerstral village and he has fond memories of numerous summer vacations spent here as a kid back in the 70’s & 80's and etched in his mind are the picturesque rivers & backwaters, the serene beauty of temples, the games kids played, fishing & food. As a child, he remembers hearing adults talk about Vanchinaad, the old Chera capital that existed here two millennia ago and of the legend of the ancient port city of Muziris. River Lodge is located in the region of this old port city, which historians and archaeologists are now uncovering to be ancient India’s gateway to civilisations with a history dating back more than 3 millennia. By the 1st Century BC, the Chinese, Arabs, Jews, Greeks and Romans were already trading spices here. In the 2nd Century AD, the Portuguese, Dutch and the British arrived, initially to trade and soon were part of the internal power struggles between Travancore, Kochi, Calicut and the Mysore kingdoms. All of them have left their imprints on the region. By (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) , Rasmi & Vineeth had decided to quit their jobs and relocate to Kerala. Their hunt for the perfect place to set up their new home cum workspace ended in (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) when they found a beautiful little strip of land on the edge of the river Periyar, which was just across the river from the weaving villages. The land was also historically significant, having once been home to Shangoonny Menon, Diwan Peshkar of the erstwhile Travancore State and eminent Historian, author of The History of Travancore (First published in (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) It was here that he penned all his works. GETTING HERE BY AIR We are just half an hour (20 km) away from Kochi International Airport, the fourth busiest airport in India in terms of international traffic. Once you arrive, head for the prepaid taxi desk and ask for a cab to Puthenvelikkara. Use (Hidden by Airbnb) Maps or iMaps to navigate here. Alternately, let us know in advance and we will arrange a taxi to pick you up and get you here. GETTING HERE BY RAIL Depending on where your train halts, we are a 20 km autorikshaw (tuk-tuk) or taxi ride away from the railway stations of Aluva, Angamali or Chovara. If your train only halts at major train stations, then you can alight at Ernakulam Town railway station, which is 30 km from us. GETTING HERE BY ROAD If you're travelling on National Highway 544 (which goes from Salem to Kochi and used to be called National Highway 47 as per the old numbering system), you must turn west at Athani, from where we are a short 15 km drive. If you're travelling on National Highway 66 (which goes from Mumbai to Kanyakumari and used to be called National Highway 17 as per the old numbering system), you must turn east at Kodungallur, from where we are a short 10 km drive. If you are travelling by bus (public transport), your destination is Puthenvelikkara which can be reached through the nearest bus interchange towns of Kodangallur, Mala or Athani. GETTING HERE BY FERRY In case you get to the Muziris Heritage areas on the opposite bank of the river at Chendamangalam or Kottayil Kovilakam, you can take the 5 minute ferry ride across to reach here. River Lodge overlooks the idyllic uninhabited island of Dharma Thuruth and is in the heart of the country’s largest Heritage Conservation Project called the Muziris Heritage Project. It is well connected by State Highway to Kochi International Airport (20 Km), National Highway to Kochi City (25 Km). DESTINATIONS ~ 0 km from the Muziris Heritage Area on the River Periyar ~ 13 km to picturesque Cherai beach ~ 20 km from Kochi International Airport, India's 7th busiest. ~ 25 km to Kochi city, the bustling commercial capital of Kerala ~ 49 km to the majestic Athirappilly waterfalls, Kerala's largest ~ 57 km to the most sacred Guruvayur temple ~ 75 km to the idyllic Kumarakom lagoon and backwaters ~ 120 km to the serene hills of Munnar ~ 149 km to the lush Periyar wildlife sanctuary, Thekkady ~ 120 km to the enchanting Idukki wildlife sanctuary