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New Indian Express
19 hours ago
- New Indian Express
High tea with hints of the empire at Kochi's Brunton Boatyard
Fort Kochi has always been a mix of cultures. The Dutch, British, Portuguese, and Jews. Their influence extends to everything, most notably architecture and food. And nowhere is this amalgamation more profound than at Brunton Boatyard, a CGH Earth heritage hotel perched on Calvathy Road. Indeed, at their History restaurant, one is serenaded by way of a scrumptious fine dining experience that very thing: the history of Fort Kochi, through 32 cuisines from all the communities that make up the place. However, at their Armoury Restobar, this emphasis on the local quietens down to bring to the fore the old-world English charm. And what better way to do it than with the traditional high Tea? This is precisely what the hotel leans into.
Khaleej Times
12-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Nagarhole National Park: 3-day itinerary to make the most of your trip
Driving into CGH Earth Saha Coorg Wild Walk's gates, passing coffee bushes and tall trees, our first glimpse of the villa encircled by electric fencing, with light flooding out of the expansive picture windows is magical. The only sound in the air is the strident sound of cicadas under the star-spangled sky. The villa-style safari lodge is near Kutta's Nanachi Gate, in Coorg, in the South Indian state of Karnataka, minutes from the entrance of Nagarahole National Park, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. The park is nestled in the Kodagu and Mysuru districts of Karnataka, India. Once this area was the exclusive hunting grounds of the royalty of Mysuru. Covering an impressive area of around 643 square kilometres, it was declared a national park in 1988 and is part of the expansive Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve. The park derives its name from Nagara which means snake, and hole, meaning river or stream in the Kannada language. Nagarahole is home to a diverse range of mammals, including majestic elephants, tigers, elusive leopards, wild dogs and sloth bears. For bird enthusiasts, the park is a paradise with over 270 species, such as the Malabar trogon and the striking Malabar pied hornbill. Our villa furnished in an earthy, rustic style, is amid a lush estate planted with robusta coffee, orange and pepper, that belongs to a local planter and has been in his family for five generations. CGH Earth has renovated the property into a cozy safari lodge, with stone clad walls, two lounges and four rooms, that offer a tryst with nature and quietude. Our room is well furnished, with large picture windows that looked into the surrounding greenery and forest with a spacious bathroom with a rain shower. Wildlife photographs of leopards, elephants and tigers adorn the walls of every room, reminding you of where you are. The lounge downstairs is furnished in shades of olive green, shelves are equipped with binoculars and books on wildlife, with walls decorated with art and artefacts from the region. We hear stories of how leopards have been sighted approaching the property at night, recorded on cameras. The lodge arranges for safari drives in the neighbouring Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, home to tigers, leopards, wild boar, Asiatic elephants, Gaur, Mouse deer, Langur monkeys and a prolific bird life. You can also choose to take plantation walks or go for picnics in the surrounding areas. An early morning jeep safari drive takes us through red-dirt trails, and beautiful misty landscapes of open meadows, dense forests and winding streams, with rosewood, silver oak, sandalwood, silk cotton and teak trees standing tall, punctuated by the brilliant yellow flowers of the golden shower tree. Herds of sambar deer and wild boars lurk in bamboo thickets, as langurs with black and silver faces gazed at us curiously from branches. The guide points out the fissured bark of the crocodile bark tree that resembles the rough scales of a crocodile, is resistant to fire, and blooms just before the monsoon, the axle wood tree that was traditionally used to make agricultural implements, and is known for its gum and resins, and the silk cotton tree. Though we see the tracks of a sloth bear and fresh paw marks of a tiger, they remain elusive. We spot a Malabar pied hornbill with its large beak, on the branches of a silk cotton tree. Near a water hole, we see a huge congregation of lesser whistling ducks, as river terns and Brahminy kites soar overhead. Crested serpent eagles and fishing hawks circle over ponds and streams. A mugger crocodile basks on a stone bridge, as we come across a herd of elephants including a calf, that was just a month old, nestling close to the matriarch. Not far from here we spot a herd of sinewy Gaur or wild bison that can weigh up to 1,000 kg each – our guide tells us that they are the favourite prey of tigers providing them around nine days' food. Nagarahole of course is not only about its wildlife – it's also the home of the Jenu Kuruba tribes, and we see the schools in forest clearings for their children, and meet some of them as they walk, carrying firewood. They still depend on ancient wisdom and forage for honey, roots and other forest goodies to sustain them. Come evening, we sit around a bonfire and listen to our naturalist Sharath Abraham, and his tales of the jungle. He showed us videos of a face-off between the fabled black panther of Kabini and a leopard on the branches of a tree, and a safari drive where the python lies on the road ahead and a tiger evaluates the danger and walks away. An afternoon walk through the coffee plantation, takes us through white coffee blooms with their heady fragrance. We spot huge heaps of elephant dung and understand that these marauders enter the plantation in the nights. It's not uncommon that even tigers and leopards stray here. Though we don't spot tigers or leopards on our safari drives, magic exists everywhere. Each safari is like a new story that unfolds before your eyes. From the reddish-brown Malabar squirrels with long tails that scramble up the trees on our property, to the paw marks of the sloth bears that we see on our safari drive and the flash of a blue bearded bee-eater on the branches of a tree. Best of all are the birds that I see on our property, with my binoculars, from the white-cheeked barbet which makes a strident sound through the day, to the Asian fairy bluebird. I sketch what I see before me, trying to capture the sights of the forest, so that I can recall them back in the urban jungle.
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Hans India
Resorts for you to explore this summer where every drop counts
This summer, let's explore vacation spots and resorts that offer peace and relaxation while also taking care of the planet. Here are 5 resorts that I would call 'eco-resorts', because while they provide a quiet break from everyday life, they have also adopted some amazing water conservation efforts. Evolve Back Kabini Nestled between Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks, Evolve Back Kabini is located near the riverside, surrounded by nature and wildlife. The resort follows some strict water conservation practices, where it collects rainwater through rooftop systems and ponds, recycles all wastewater through treatment plants for use in gardening, and uses in-room water purifiers instead of plastic bottles, saving over 150,000 bottles every year, allowing guests to enjoy purified water sustainably while helping reduce plastic pollution helping the sustaible enviorment of the resort. The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort, Ranthambhore Located in Sawai Madhopur, next to the famous Ranthambhore National Park, The Oberoi Vanyavilas offers a luxurious stay with a strong commitment to the environment. The resort collects around 1.6 million litres of rainwater each season through specially designed lakes, which also attract over 135 bird species. It uses a sewage treatment plant to recycle water for garden irrigation, reducing the need for groundwater. The rooms feature water-saving taps, showerheads, and toilets, and guests are encouraged to use water mindfully. Native trees and grasses across the property help recharge the water table naturally. Ananda in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand Ananda in the Himalayas, nestled in the serene Himalayan foothills, is committed to water conservation through various initiatives, which encourage reduced usage and improve water sourcing using advanced technologies. The resort has also cut down its tanker trips, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. Other measures include a water bottling plant with reusable glass bottles, saving 350 plastic bottles daily, and a zero waste water policy that ensures recycled water is used for gardening through drip irrigation and sprinklers. SwaSwara Gokarna, CGH Earth SwaSwara is located on Om beach along the Konkan coast in Gokarna. At SwaSwara by CGH Earth, water conservation is a top priority. The resort harvests up to 18 million litres of rainwater each monsoon through three large reservoirs, meeting all its water needs, including purified drinking water. Wastewater is treated and reused for gardening, reducing pressure on local water sources. Reflecting CGH Earth's commitment to sustainability, similar rainwater harvesting systems are set up across its properties and even in local schools, supporting communities and promoting responsible tourism. ITC Grand Chola, Chennai ITC Grand Chola, located in Chennai, India, has taken great steps in saving hotel uses water-efficient fixtures that cut down water use by about 35% compared to regular standards. It also treats all its wastewater on-site and reuses it for things like irrigation, flushing, and cooling systems. This not only reduces the hotel's water usage but also helps conserve freshwater, benefiting the local environment. Whether through rainwater collection, plastic-free drinking solutions, or the reuse of wastewater, these resorts demonstrate that responsible tourism is not about compromise. It is about thoughtful innovation. This summer, choose destinations that honour the land, respect its water, and quietly set an example for what sustainable hospitality can be.
News18
16-05-2025
- News18
5 Eco-Resorts Redefining Summer Luxury Through Water Conservation
Last Updated: For your summer getaway, take a look at these eco-resorts in India that are rooted in sustainability, serenity, and conscious choice. This summer, escape the chaos without compromising the planet. As the world rethinks the way we travel, a new kind of luxury is emerging, one rooted in sustainability, serenity, and conscious choices. Enter the era of eco-resorts: destinations that don't just pamper their guests but also protect their surroundings. Take a look at these five thoughtfully designed resorts where you can unwind guilt-free, because true relaxation includes caring for the Earth. Evolve Back Kabini Nestled between Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks, Evolve Back Kabini is located near the riverside, surrounded by nature and wildlife. The resort implements rigorous water conservation measures, including harvesting rainwater through rooftop systems and ponds, and recycling all wastewater via treatment plants for use in gardening. In place of plastic bottles, in-room water purifiers provide guests with clean, safe drinking water, an initiative that saves over 1,50,000 plastic bottles annually. Located in Sawai Madhopur, next to the famous Ranthambhore National Park, The Oberoi Vanyavilas offers a luxurious stay with a strong commitment to the environment. The resort collects around 1.6 million litres of rainwater each season through specially designed lakes, which also attract over 135 bird species. It uses a sewage treatment plant to recycle water for garden irrigation, reducing the need for groundwater. The rooms feature water-saving taps, showerheads, and toilets, and guests are encouraged to use water mindfully. Native trees and grasses across the property help recharge the water table naturally. Ananda in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand Ananda in the Himalayas, nestled in the serene Himalayan foothills, is committed to water conservation through various initiatives, which encourage reduced usage and improve water sourcing using advanced technologies. The resort has also cut down its tanker trips, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. Other measures include a water bottling plant with reusable glass bottles, saving 350 plastic bottles daily, and a zero-waste water policy that ensures recycled water is used for gardening through drip irrigation and sprinklers. SwaSwara Gokarna, CGH Earth SwaSwara is located on Om beach along the Konkan coast in Gokarna. At SwaSwara by CGH Earth, water conservation is a top priority. The resort harvests up to 18 million litres of rainwater each monsoon through three large reservoirs, meeting all its water needs, including purified drinking water. Wastewater is treated and reused for gardening, reducing pressure on local water sources. Reflecting CGH Earth's commitment to sustainability, similar rainwater harvesting systems are set up across its properties and even in local schools, supporting communities and promoting responsible tourism. ITC Grand Chola, Chennai top videos View all ITC Grand Chola, located in Chennai, India, has taken great steps in saving water. The hotel uses water-efficient fixtures that cut down water use by about 35% compared to regular standards. It also treats all its wastewater on-site and reuses it for irrigation, flushing, and cooling systems. Not only does this reduce the hotel's water usage, but it also helps conserve freshwater, benefiting the local environment. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : lifestyle summer travel Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: May 16, 2025, 19:03 IST News lifestyle » travel 5 Eco-Resorts Redefining Summer Luxury Through Water Conservation
