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Brunton Boatyard, Kerala, India

Hotel Description
The shape of our new logo is fluid and organic, suggestive of forms found in nature. It echoes the Malayalam letter 'ruh', a rarely used vowel that connects. We celebrate the connections between old and new, between hospitality and tradition, between ancient cultures and the modern world, between man and his environment. Even the new name represents a connection. As CGH Earth, we look relentlessly into the future. Yet remaining firmly rooted in our past.

Luxury Hotel Accommodation
Like the other great port cities of the world, Cochin is heir to a remarkable cultural heritage. As in Marseilles, Amsterdam, New York and Macao, this is a place where civilizations have rubbed shoulders. Carried on winds of wood and sail, lifestyles and beliefs have commingled; new cuisines, art forms and societies have been born. The Brunton Boatyard Hotel is our attempt to distill an aspect of this heritage. And to bring colonial Cochin alive for the contemporary traveler. For what is essentially a small and intimate city resort hotel, The Brunton Boatyard possesses a remarkable sense of scale, evident the moment you turn into the tiled forecourt. The lobby is a vault of sunlight and air, framed by arches and overhung with punkahs - enormous, old-fashioned fans of Indo-Portuguese origin. Your bags have been whisked away to your room, but why not take a turn around the corridors before you go? A rich, and colourful history marks this spot, once the century old boatyard of Geo. Brunton and Sons. On this site we recreated the splendour of the city's illustrious past, using the materials of fin de siecl� Cochin - lime, terracotta, wood and tile. Colonial Courtesies The hotel's nautical past seems to follow you around. On one wall, old Dutch maps, on another, a small navigation device, in the grassy courtyard, an ancient anchor. Walk further, turn a corner, and you find yourself outside the Armory Bar. Perhaps later, you could enjoy a sundowner here, with old Portuguese armour and musketry for company. A short saunter down the corridor brings you to a little doorway. Pass through and suddenly, the whole vista of Cochin harbour opens up beyond the pool's inviting waters. This is the spot to read a boring historical novel, work on your tan and watch the ships sail by, so close you can almost reach out and touch them. Crane your neck a bit and you can spot a serried rank of Cochin's famed fishing nets. They first made their appearance in 1350 a.d. and their much-photographed preying mantis shapes form one of the city's most enduring images. Also near the pool is the hotel's jetty, and a word at the reception gets you a variety of cruising options to choose from. The heritage of Cochin is most evident around its enormous harbour, and this is a not-to-be-missed experience. A Bathroom with a View. All of the Brunton Boatyard Hotel's 22 rooms overlook the sea, and so, by happy circumstance, do the en-suite bathrooms. Few pleasures rival a long hot soak in your tub of an evening, watching the dolphins play tag with the trading ships of the globe. Your super-rested muscles should then have just enough energy to carry you to the quaint four poster bed that dominates your room. (A little footstool has been thoughtfully provided to assist the process). Is there such a thing as too much relaxation? At the Brunton Boatyard, we think not. Digging into the Past. Relaxation, in fact, may well be a necessity after a meal at The Brunton Boatyard Hotel. We must hastily add that our menus offer many healthy, low-fat options, but we also urge you to indulge yourself at least once. For here is your chance to dine from, literally, a melting pot. To the basic melody of black pepper, ginger and cardamom, each group that came to Kerala added a counterpoint of its own. The Portuguese came to trade in spice, but left behind the ' Indian' red chili. The Syriac Christians brought a variety of meat dishes, that co-incidentally, tasted fabulous with the native string hoppers. The Jews found coriander both Kosher and delicious, so into the pot it went. And Dutch puddings were found to benefit greatly from a spot of fresh cinnamon. At the History caf, these cuisines have been given a new lease of life. We coaxed some carefully guarded secret recipes from the old families of Cochin, and every evening, they are faithfully recreated for your pleasure. You can, for example, try that Raj standby, Mulligatawny soup, followed by the da Cunha clan's Pork Vindaloo, and Awaal arubyan bil Kabaneh, an Arab pulao (rice dish) tempered with local spices and yoghurt. There should be just enough room for Pazham Nirachatu, a Malabar dessert made from steamed bananas with a delectable stuffing. And should you feel a little stuffed yourself after all this, may we suggest a little walk.

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