Spice Village

Curling around a misty ridge 2,000 ft high in the Periyar fastness, we found an arborarium, one man s personal forest, with fruit trees, rare herbs and a profusion of flowering plants. And here, we set out to build a resort. A village, produced whole, using mountain spirit and tribal wisdom as building material. Your cottage is brick and log, the roof thatched with the same elephant grass used in tribal huts, woven in the same traditional techniques. Of course, the comforts of a modern hotel exist, but they never intrude. Modern plumbing, comfortable beds and hot showers find their place, but in a setting stripped down to its natural essence. Hewn stone replaces shag carpets. Birdsong takes the place of television. Air-conditioning, Unnecessary. anyway in the fine mountain climate, and what would it do but mask the heady scents of spice forests. 52 individual, tribal styled thatch roof cottages with verandahs with, we hasten to add, modern plumbing, solar powered hot water and contemporary furnishings. You can choose from: Standard Villas: these are suite accommodations, with living rooms, a bedroom and a private garden, complete with your own park bench. Deluxe Villas cozy huts tucked away between fruit trees, herb beds and 50 year old timbers from the arborarium laid down by A. W. Woods.