Jan 162011
Travancore Heritage, a beachfront resort set in 14 acres of lush green coconut gardens, is located at Chowara, south of Kovalam, near Trivandrum. The resort stands on a high cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea and a long wide beach, frequented more by local fishermen than tourists. The resort was conceived and developed as a heritage property which brings to life the age-old traditional architectural splendour of the region with its typical timber houses and ‘Nalukettus’ cottages with tiled roofing. An ideal choice for a stop-over before flying to Maldives or for a beach resort which gives easy access to Kerala’s other main attractions.
Location
About 20kms (30 minutes drive) from Trivandrum Airport. Walking distance to the beach.
In our opinion, Chowara is a much better option than Kovalam itself which has quite a touristy, commercial feel to it. You will not find throngs of people on the beach at Chowara. Instead, you will find local traditional fishing boats dotted along the miles of sand. There are a number of local fishing villages close by and this is a great spot to watch the boats bring in the days catch and fishing nets being expertly manoevered in the ocean. The Travancore Heritage provides a great vantage point to observe these activities, especially first thing in the morning.
Kovalam and Trivandrum are within easy reach for sighseeing and shopping.
Please note that although there is a lift available for access to/from the beach, the resort is built on an incline and does involve some fairly steep slopes and a number of steps to reach the main restaurant .
Facilities
2 Swimming pools: one adjacent to the main restaurant at the top of the cliff and one at beach level
Ayurveda centre: for single treatments or a tailored package
Yoga Pavillion
2 Gift Shops
Health Club
Wi-Fi
Accommodation
A total of 90 rooms divided into six categories. The accommodation is set amidst landscaped gardens and coconut plantations on the cliff and on the beach side. The fabulous Heritage rooms are constructed from reclaimed traditional Keralan timber houses and are delightful. Well spaced apart, with the odd hammock strung up between them, they offer wonderful views of the gardens and Arabian sea. The Premium Mansions and Suites offer the best sea views whilst the Beach Grove rooms are adjacent to the beach and lower level swimming pool and offer great value for money.
Pool Mansions x 2
Situated on the cliff with garden and partial sea view, these 100 year old reclaimed wooden houses offer the ultimate in privacy and luxury. Independent villas, with air conditioned spacious bed room, a drawing room and sit-out or verandah with rich period furniture and all modern amenities of attached bathroom with lavish fittings and 24 hours cold/hot water showers. There is also has a private dip pool in an open back-yard, completely walled in for privacy. These suites are ideal for that extra special ocassion.
Heritage Premium x 22
Heritage Premium cottages are located on the cliff overlooking the arabian sea and the garden. The wooden cottages are superbly equipped with comfortable furniture and modern amenities.
Heritage Home x 23
Heritage Home cottages are located on the cliff overlooking the gardens and with a partial sea view. The traditional designed wooden cottages are both comfortable and full of character.
Premium Mansion x 15
Located on the cliff, Premium Mansion Rooms feature the best sea view. Each patio or balcony will allow you to enjoy the views of Arabian Sea.
Premium Suites x 4
Situated on the cliff, this accommodation provides excellent views of the Arabian sea – ideal for watching the local fishermen. Suite rooms have a separate living area and bedroom with wooden floor and a spacious balcony. Amenities include air conditioning, mini bar, tea and coffee maker and a plasma TV.
Beach Grove x 24
The beach grove block is located at the foot of the 120 ft. cliff and is slightly set back from the beach, beyond the swimming pool. A lift facility is available to move between the different levels of the resort.
Dining
We were impressed with the standard of food at the Travancore Heritage. The main restaurant ‘Open House’ has a pleasant location by the main pool and has partially open sides allowing a breeze to flow through. There is also a beachside seafood restauarant and a dedicated Ayurvedic dining area.
‘Open House’: The ‘open house’ restaurant has open arches on the front sides and overlooks the swimming pool. In the main dining hall, the exquisite decorative wooden ceiling is some 100 years old, sourced from the marriage hall of a feudal chief in Tamil Nadu. The restaurant offers multi-cuisine fare with the specialty of seafood and local ethnic cuisine and can serve 80 guests at a time.
‘Ocean Grill’: ideally situated between the beach grove and the sea. With thatched roofing and sea breezes, this restaurant specialises in sea food.
Ayurveda restaurant: There is a separate Ayurveda Restaurant which only serves ayurveda dishes. Combined with a series of ayurvedic spa treatments, this provides an ideal opportunity to indulge in this traditional Keralan healing remedy.
