All Things Wild and Beautiful

Nestled amidst a cardamom plantation, and skirting one of Kerala’s best wildlife sanctuaries, the Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club, Thekkady lets you escape into the wilderness and bond with untamed outdoors and nature at its pristine best.

The glistening green of Thekkady’s forest country is as stunning as it gets. Tucked deep in the dense cardamom plantations and enveloped by verdant jungles of Thekkady, lies the Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club.

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Niraamaya Retreats Aradura Thekkady 2

The drive from Kochi


Along the 5-hour drive through panoramic mountain ranges, winding roads lead you through tea gardens-studded terraced valleys before you arrive at the bustling Kumily town. The air is fragrant with the scent of the spices from the several plantations spread across the mountains. The road winds upwards, into the mountains, leading up to a tranquil hideaway— the Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club, Thekkady.
 

Where bliss and peace co-exist


Everything at the retreat soothes the soul. Stand on one of the irregular slopes on which the cottages are located, or above which float the glass-and-wood cottages on stilts—you’ll find the Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club, Thekkady to be in total harmony with nature, as if the forests and the plantations have grown around it. The ethereal outdoors shimmer under Kerala’s abundant sunlight in summers, and look luminous when drenched by its torrential monsoons.

In the mornings, you will be woken up by the sweet symphony of the birds, particularly, the Malabar whistling thrush. The only sounds in the evening are those of the forest—the rustling of trees, the sound of crickets, and the distant trumpeting by elephants who may be walking from one jungle to another. Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club is your chance to reconnect with nature, pause, recharge…. and, repeat.
 

Niraamaya Retreats offer a unique convergence of hospitality and wellness


At the Niraamaya Spa, you can opt for either Western or Ayurvedic therapies and team it with a daily yoga session in the lush outdoors. Guests can choose between freshly cooked regional cuisine made using some of the freshest produce and spices, or international fare.
 

Plantation-style and wooden stilt suites


The cottages at the Niraamaya Retreats Cardamom Club, Thekkady blends beautifully with its exquisite surroundings. The Garden-view cottages are reminiscent of the homes of the native Manan tribe. The shower areas in some of the bath suites are topped by a glass canopy to allow both light and the green landscape to permeate the interiors. The stilted mountain-view cottages, on the other hand, have floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unobstructed views of the cardamom hills. The spacious outdoor decks are perfect for unhindered interaction with nature and wildlife.
 

In the lap of nature


The infinity pool sits under a leafy forest canopy, and the all-day dining restaurant stands on a terraced deck. On some days, when you wake up at sunrise, you will be greeted by a wall of mist and clouds that slowly clear into the quiet stillness of the forest, as the sun rises. It’s a view worth coming back to, over and over again.

If you spend time in the breathtaking outdoors, you may see an elephant or bison cross the green corridor, just outside the forest. Or, spot exotic birds such as the Malabar grey hornbill or the racquet-tailed drongo. The location affords opportunities for several hikes and trails around the retreat, through plantations and forest trails populated by elephants, deer and gaurs.

Spend evenings in a comfortable plantation chair, armed with a steaming cup of spiced tea with a hint of cardamom, cloves and ginger from the plantation grounds. The spectacular location allows you to rejuvenate in a nature-inspired setting, where the stress of urban living is nothing more than a distant memory. You will leave the retreat not just reconnected with nature, but also, reacquainted with your inner-self.