Experience the Elegance of Lotus Houseboat
Your Luxury Home on the Water
As far as exceptional journeys go, spending your days and nights on the luxurious Lotus Houseboat cruising down the Tejaswani River to the remote backwaters of the Arabian Sea is one experience that you must tick off your travel bucket list.
The Lotus Houseboat, a part of AB Chapri Retreats, is a short drive away from Neeleshwar Hermitage, a tranquil boutique beach property owned by the same group in Neeleshwar, Kasaragod District. The elegant and modern rice-barge-style houseboat is an ode to slow travel and a relaxed way of enjoying stunning views of the backwaters and the flora and fauna of unspoiled coastal North Kerala.
Unique Activities
Enjoy Your Activities On Board the Lotus
The Lotus Houseboat is your home in more ways than one. With two luxurious en-suite bedrooms, a lounge and dining area, an upper observation deck, a kitchen and a full-time crew, you can plan your activities on board with ease.
If yoga is your go-to, the lotus will arrange for a yoga teacher on board, on request, for an additional fee. You can try your hand at fishing, and if you get lucky, the chef on board will prepare your catch just the way you like it. Kerala cuisine is all about spices, flavours and slow cooking. Learn the secrets of Malabar dishes during the evening cooking classes offered on the sundeck.
The Great Malabar Escape at Neeleshwar Hermitage
To fully experience the beauty of the unspoiled North Kerala beaches and the vibrant, culturally rich Malabar region, you can opt for the Great Malabar Escape Package, which includes two nights at the stylish Neeleshwar Hermitage and one night cruising on the elegant Lotus Houseboat.
At the hermitage, rejuvenate at the Priya ayurvedic spa, align your chakras and destress with Pranayama at the yoga pavilion, relax at the beachfront in a hammock, enjoy a multi-course dinner on the sandy beaches of the Arabian Sea or view spectacular sunsets from your cottage as you breathe in the fragrance of hibiscus and frangipani.
Explore the Cultural Richness of the Theyyam
There’s a thread that runs through every little village, town and city in Kerala. And that is the cultural practices, which are steeped in religion, tradition and history. From Kathakali, Kalaripayattu and Mohiniattam to Theyyam, Kerala showcases dance, rituals and music with a flavour unique to each region.
The Theyyam, a ritual dance performance distinctive to the Malabar region, is a sacred performance and is called the dance of the gods. The costumes are extravagant, and the makeup takes hours to apply. The music is solemn, almost trance-like. If you want to see the best of the Malabar’s Theyyam performances, Neeleshwar’s local guides will organise it for you.
Lodging
Listen to the Gentle Lullaby of the Waves
The Lotus Houseboat is all about luxury and comfort, with an emphasis on the cruise experience for you. The two suites, called Lalima and Sukhima, have teak floors and are furnished with Malabari and colonial accents. The bedrooms are modern and airy, with large windows that offer floor-to-ceiling vistas of the backwaters and private sit-outs where you can enjoy your cuppa in harmony with the stillness around you.
The lounge and dining area also have floor-to-ceiling windows for the best views of the river. The open upper deck is yours to relax with a book, do yoga, watch the sunrise, raise a toast to the magical sunset or have a starlit meal.
Dining
Flavours of the Coast in Every Bite
With your own chef on board the Lotus Houseboat, you will always have a full and happy stomach. The on-board kitchen will spoil you with Kerala thalis, Mediterranean and Italian feasts and snacks all day long. The fruit and vegetables are locally sourced, the ingredients are fresh, and local fishermen row to the boat every morning with the freshest catch.
The menu at the Lotus has regional specialties, Indian and international dishes and is a la carte and part of the package. Do let the chef know what you have in mind, and he will curate your dining experience for you with a glass of wine or tasty cocktails made by the staff.
Sustainability Story
A mainstay at all AB Chapri Retreats is their commitment to sustainable hospitality and support of the local community. A large part of their efforts go into improving their ecological footprint and using local building techniques and materials in their ventures.
The Lotus Houseboat has a no-plastic policy, and guests are served reverse-osmosis purified filtered water in copper or glass. The water discharged from the houseboat is recycled, treated and used to compost the land rather than pollute the river or the backwaters.
From sourcing and preparation of food to cultural and village experiences, the people of Malabar are directly or indirectly involved in supporting the local economy by the group, as you will see throughout your cruise.
Discover More Immersive Experiences at Lotus Houseboat
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