Niraamaya Retreat Cardamom Club

Set amid a charming cardamom plantation in Thekkady, the Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club is surrounded by valleys and undulating hills beyond. The resort is a great place to explore the towns of Kumily as well as the famed Periyar Tiger Reserve. The elegantly furnished plantation-style cottages and wooden rooms built on stilts look out onto the wilderness and command majestic mountain views. Set amidst a lush forest canopy, the15-metre infinity pool overlooks the valley and the verdant mountains beyond.

In between lounging on hammocks, dips in the infinity pool amidst tree canopy or tucking into freshly cooked meals, there is plenty to explore. Guests seeking adventure can choose between spice walks, treks through dense evergreen forests, visits to tea plantations and Kumily cultural immersion or choose from the plethora of eco-tourism activities offered by the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary like bamboo rafting, jeep safaris in the reserve, jungle scout, or border hiking.

Location

Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club is a tranquil retreat in the verdant mountains of the Idduki region of Kerala near Periyar National Park.

Things to know

The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (160 km) located 4.5 hours from the resort.
It is highly recommended to carry good hiking boots, a light jacket, repellent, a hat, and if possible a good pair of binoculars especially if you want to enjoy the eco-tourism activities offered by the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Rooms & Suites

There are two choices of accommodations – the plantation-style Garden view cottages and all-wood Mountain view cottages built on stilts. All the cottages have patios or wooden decks so guests can wake up to stunning views of nature. The interiors, a play of muted tones with pops of color feature minimal decoration and vibrant art.

Restaurants & Bars

Café Samsara, the all-day dining restaurant with outdoor and indoor seating overlooks the pool and serves dishes inspired by the abundant spices found in the region. The restaurant offers a combination of Global and Pan-Indian cuisine and custom-made fares.

Spa & Wellness

The globally acclaimed Niraamaya Spa features timeless therapeutic traditions centered around Ayurveda. Cardamom Club, which is in complete harmony with nature, immensely helps to amplify the therapeutic processes of spa therapies. Their signature massages and therapies, and skin and hair rituals are designed to integrate the best from around the world.

For those looking for serious healing, the long-stay Ayurveda packages are all-inclusive packages that offer the services of an Ayurveda physician, massages, Yoga sessions, herbal medicines as well as meals prescribed by the physician. The programs cover a varied range of aspects of well-being including weight loss, detox, bone and joint care, stress, and anti-aging.

Experiences

There’s plenty to do in and around the plantation stay. Short treks, picnics, and cooking classes can be organised in-house. Guests can opt for a spice trail with the Chef and learn about the local spices and follow-it up by a cooking session with the chef to savour the aromas and flavour of the melange of spices found here. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary offers special eco-tourism programs like Nature walks, border hiking, and bamboo rafting or boating on the Periyar Lake. Thekkady and surrounding towns like Kumily are known for their spice gardens. So guests have the opportunity to visit spice plantations or head to the market in Kumily town for some spice shopping.

Sustainability and Responsible Tourism

Niraamaya Wellness Retreats are deeply committed to sustainability by taking responsibility to take care of the environment, natural resources, and communities in all the destinations where they are present. The closely-knit relationship with the neighboring local communities and involvement in the educational projects in the region help the wellness chain connect with the locals at a very deep-rooted level.