Staying at Philipkutty’s Farm is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the real Keralan experience in a fascinating location, with a caring family to look after you. It is a special place, as it provides something different, especially for those who prefer small and friendly places, and, could just be, the perfect hideaway for the bespoke traveller.

You are welcomed, looked after, and cared for by the family (wife Anu, mother Aniamma, son Philip and myself - Vinod). Though the family hosts you, your privacy is assured as the five waterfront villas are entirely independent and away from the family residence. The first villa designed by Karl Damscen, a Swiss architect, is a traditionally styled, antique filled, open plan affair, with sufficient space for a couple and an extra bed if need be. The other four villas designed by Thomas Dominic, are the same in style and deco, but with separate bedroom, living room and ‘sit-out’ facing the peaceful waterfront.

All this is set on a beautiful small farm island which was actually reclaimed from the backwaters (Vembanad Lake) in the early 1950’s by my grandfather. The working farm, which practices sustainable / organic methods of farming, is two metres below the lake level and has coconut, toddy, nutmeg, banana, cocoa and pepper cultivation not to forget the jumbo prawn (scampi) and karimeen (pearlspot) found in some of the farm canals. Though accessible by road (up to the opposite bank), it is the ‘vallam’ (countryboat) that will finally take you across.

Surely, one among the great places to stay.