Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has announced the launch of Banyan Tree Kerala in Q1 2013. The resort’s debut marks the first property in India for the Banyan Tree Group. Banyan Tree Kerala is an all-pool villa retreat.
Located on the private island of Nediyathuruthu in the Alleppey district of Kerala, Banyan Tree Kerala is an hour south of Kochi International Airport and a 10-minute boat ride from the resort’s private jetty in nearby Vaduthala. Framed by the backwaters for which Kerala is renowned, the resort offers a setting to discover the beaches, canals, tropical greenery and Ayurvedic therapies.
Each of the resort’s 59 villas features a private pool and views of the surrounding waterways and canals. Boasting local architectural accents of gabled roofs and carved wooden facades, the villa interiors showcase indigenous materials such as coir – a natural fiber extracted from the husk of coconuts, ornamental wood carvings, paintings and frescoes as well as Kathakali art, which depicts the traditional and highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama from Kerala.
Banyan Tree Kerala features the group’s first dedicated Ayurvedic Center, offering personalized consultations by Ayurvedic doctors. Guests can also enjoy a variety of other wellness therapies from the Banyan Tree Spa in one of four Ayurvedic treatment rooms or one of six Spa pavilions. The resort’s gymnasium and yoga pavilion are also available.
The Activity Island, situated just five minutes away from the main resort can accommodate groups of approximately 150 guests for private events and functions. A grass area is ideal for receptions and a recreation zone offers a court for various sports, a climbing wall, archery range and an obstacle course. A houseboat offers leisurely evening rides on the backwaters. Banyan Tree Kerala is also ideal for small to medium meetings and events. A boardroom and two meeting rooms ranging from 269 square feet to 430 square feet hold eight to 18 people each. Additionally, the 2,281 square foot banquet hall accommodates up to 150 guests and is perfect for sophisticated gatherings and gala functions.
Banyan Tree Kerala offers an array of dining options. South Indian cuisine is available at the All Day Dining venue; while the group’s much-lauded Saffron restaurant features Thai cuisine. Classical Indian dance performances are presented in the Bar Lounge nightly, and the Spa Café features a menu inspired by the tri-dosha concept of Ayurveda. Special dining experiences include dinner aboard a local palak boat typically used by royalty on which Keralan fish curry and a variety of other traditional dishes are served. Guests may also dine atop a specially built tower, the tallest point on the island, while admiring views of the resort.
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