See why so many travellers make Ayesha Manzil their small hotel of choice when visiting Thalassery. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a quaint setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.
Guest rooms offer amenities such as air conditioning, and guests can go online with free internet access offered by the small hotel.
The property also boasts a pool and free breakfast, to help make your stay more enjoyable. If you are driving to Ayesha Manzil, free parking is available.
Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as Thalassery Fort (1.7 mi) and English Church (1.8 mi), guests of Ayesha Manzil can easily experience some of Thalassery's most well known attractions.
If you are looking for a good Asian restaurant, you may want to check out Rara Avis Restaurant or Paris Presidency Restaurant while staying at Ayesha Manzil.
Looking to explore? Then look no further than Catholic Rosary Church (1.1 mi) and Fisherfolk Temple (1.0 mi), which are some popular Thalassery attractions – all conveniently located within walking distance of the small hotel.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Ayesha Manzil as you experience all of the things Thalassery has to offer.
Tellicherry is off the beaten track and we saw no other tourists. A bustling little town with great markets and on the coast. The property is colonial style and a bit run down but it is clean and in it's day would have been very grand, don't let this put you off though - the welcome and warmth of the host was just lovely, we were taken to see the local sights and go to the markets to choose what we wanted for our dinners.You can walk around the town quite safely - any of the locals would be happy to help you. Faiza Moosa is one of the best chefs in Kerala and everywhere we stayed in India, everyone told us this. We had a great cookery lesson with her and bought her book (only £8.50), her and her husband and the small team they have here looked after us really well, nothing was too much trouble. It's one of those places that will stay with you - just dont expect your hairdryer to work; but to reiterate, it's clean, comfortable and the bathroom was large and well appointed.
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Date of stay: November 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A great holiday is usually about the people you meet, the conversations you have and the sights you can see. Biju welcomed us with open arms, and is a great guide to Thalassery - showing us the sights including a weaving factory, fish market, fort and we shared glass of toddy at a local toddy shop - not to be missed!
The food was fantastic, fresh and lots of choice, you don’t leave hungry.
The building itself is old, fascinating, quirky and needs some tender loving care after two years with no guests due to COVID, and hopefully they’ll be able to restore the garden and pool to their previous splendour soon.
A lovely place with a very personal touch
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An absolutely memorable Kerala hotel/homestay AYESHA MANZIL has featured in some of the grandest travel magazines and newspapers as a secret gem overlooking the Arabian Sea. It is still relatively unknown.
The house itself was built by an English trader, Murdoch Brown, who worked for the East India Company. It is in traditional merchant style with vast rooms, high ceilings, heavy wooden floors and antique furniture. Above all it is spacious, private and full of sea breezes. Murdoch Brown established the largest cinnamon garden in Asia and Ayesha Manzil was his home on the coast. In 1900 the house was bought by a local Muslim family. The purchaser's grandson Mr Moosa now owns and runs the house as a small hotel. It's unlike anywhere else.
There are only a few rooms. They are full of character, comfortable but not at all modern boutique in style. We stayed in one of the upstairs suites which was wonderfully old-fashioned and full of family furniture and dark wooden Keralan furniture.
The house is situated in a well established, rather neglected garden that looks out on the sea on three sides. There are small terraces in the garden and up above the porch where guests enjoy privacy, sea-views and peace. Meals are served on the verandah or on one of the terraces.
This would be enough to make Ayesha Manzil a very special property but it has two other great advantages.
Mrs Moosa is a seriously wonderful cook. The food at Ayesha Manzil is locally sourced and absolutely wonderful. Best of all guests are invited by Mr Moosa to accompany him to the colorful fish market and to the fruit and vegetable markets first thing in the morning to choose what will be cooked and served in the evening. Fish doesn't get any fresher. Ayesha Manzil is a foodie's paradise.
The second unforgettable thing about Ayesha Manzil is that you have the opportunity to experience the THEYYAM ritual of Northern Kerala. We thought this one of the most amazing experiences of our travels in India. It is described in a chapter of William Dalrymple's wonderful NINE LIVES. We gather that Dalrymple stays at Ayesha Manzil and that it was one of the staff here who first introduced him to Theyyam. Theyyam is an extraordinarily exotic trance-dance ritual during which a member of the lowest caste, a Dalit, actually "becomes" a Goddess. It is entirely authentic. We were the only Europeans present. The costumes and body paint are amazing. Read NINE LIVES for an account of the Theyyam.
Ayesha Manzil is not for those who like their travel to be pre-packaged, familiar and bland. The house is not your traditional five star luxury. It is full of character and comfortable. The food is outstanding and the experience of Theyyam is something for the memory bank.
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Date of stay: February 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for 2 nights and found that the remark made by the author of the Rough Guide to Kerala could not have been more wrong when they wrote that Thalassery was not worth a detour! As other reviews have all confirmed the Ayisha Manzil is a big old fashioned, traditional and charming colonial house set on the shores of the Arabian Sea. We were met by the owner Mooser, who is a real character. After providing us with a delicious light lunch he organised a late afternoon trip to a stunning beach where we watched the local kids playing beach cricket and teenagers riding their scooters along the pristine sand. We watched the stunning sunset and then went back to the house where we were served the best food that we had been served in Kerela (and that is high praise indeed!) on the sea facing terrace, cooked by Faiza, Mrs Moosa, who is an internationally renowned cook. We agreed to meet Moosa the next morning at 7.30 and he took us off to the fish and fruit markets to buy ingredients for the day's meals. He gave us a fascinating tour and introduced us to many of the local traders. After breakfast we were dispatched with Moosa's guide to a village 45 minutes away where we were privileged to be the only outsiders to watch the festivities of a local Theyyam, a Hindu festival which only happens for one day each year and where local people become Gods. The villagers were extremely welcoming and let us take photo of the ceremony, and loved seeing pictures of themselves on our camera. This was a truly unique experience that will stay in our memories for ever.That afternoon we went to a local cigarette factory and then to a cotton mill, both of which are run as co operatives and where the staff were so friendly and pleased to show us around. Back to the house for a gorgeous evening meal served by Faiza on the moonlit terrace ended a long but perfect day. If you want to stay in an authentic homestay with generous and charming hosts and experience a memorable slice of Kerelan beauty and hospitality you could do a lot worse than to make straight for the Ayisha Manzil.
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Date of stay: January 2013
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our first stay in a Southern Indian Homestay and we were not dissappointed.
Ayesha Manzil is a large old Colonial house, it is run by Faiza Moosa and her husband. They have 9 staff who look after your every need.
There are 6 very large guest rooms all of which have ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning, furnished in old tradional style to suite the house. The beds were very comfortable.
I was treated to a 2 hour cookery lesson with Faiza which was a wonderful experience - she certainly is a great cook and teacher. It was great to have the cookery book especially produced by Faiza to take home with me.
The only negative I have was that we only stayed one night ! Thank you Faiza and staff for the warm hospitality.
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Date of stay: November 2011
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our first experience of home-stay and we loved it. Mr Moosa apologised for not being there when we arrived but his staff were excellent and made up for it. The first night we were the only couple staying there (they had had a last minute cancellation) but a Belgian couple came for the evening meal so we ate with them. The second night another English couple stayed as well. The family do not eat with you. Food was excellent and Mrs Moosa gave us a cookery demonstration on the second day. The room was huge with separate dressing room, antique furniture, four poster bed and air con. Recommended
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Date of stay: January 2010
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is an Indian Homestay as opposed to an hotel,but the location overlooking the sea and overlarge bedrooms belie this. The staff are very good and helpfull in the extreme and the cooking is out of this world. last year my son and his wife stayed here and spoke highly of it and i can see why. every morninf the owner Moose goes to the fish market to harvest the best fish and invites guests to join himm on these trips. My one and only crictism is why do you charge 300 rupees for a bottle of Kingfisher when a 5* hotel only charges240?
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Date of stay: April 2015
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There is little to add to what many others have already related about this homestay. Moosa is interested and interesting, Mrs Moosa's food is wonderful and I brought a copy of her recipe book home with me, but doubt I will be able to source all the wonderful ingredients. Our full day here is one my husband and I will never forget - the trip to the fisk market where the locals all loved having photos taken and then looking at themselves on the digital screen, the fish was plentiful and varied, then home for breakfast. Off then to the Theyam ceremony which was a highlight of the very many highlights our India holiday gave us. We felt privileged to be there, and were made so welcome by the villagers who again wanted photos taken, and plied us with questions about where we were from and what our names were, and offered us free masala coffee (an acquired taste!). After lunch at Moosa's (spicy red snapper purchased at the market that morning) we visited factories making beautiful cotton fabric and cigarettes and the church where the founder of the East India Company is buried. Despite the poor conditions, everywhere we went we were met with smiles and charm. Finally we ended up on a private beach for a swim in the Arabian sea - beautifully warm, and deserted except for us! A day to remember and rounded off with more lovely food from Mrs Moosa. The accommodation is much as others have described - you have to make allowances for the age of the building so if you want 5 star accommodation don't stay here, but we wouldn't have missed it for the world.
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Date of stay: February 2014
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
“One for the memory bank – an amazing small hotel” That was the heading we gave to our review of Ayesha Manzil three years ago. We often say “Never go back,” as so often returning to a favourite place becomes an exercise in disappointment. Nothing ever stays the same - Apart from Ayesha Manzil that is.
There are few hotel owners who claim to disregard TripAdvisor reviews but Moosa (as he asks to be called) at Ayesha Manzil is one. He claims his business relies entirely on word of mouth recommendations. He is a consummate networker and seems to know everyone in the hospitality business in South India (and possibly beyond). Moosa is extraordinarily good at suggesting marvellous ways to occupy your time whilst staying at Ayesha Manzil including unforgettable visits to Theyyam, afternoon visits to a beach safe for swimming, and trips to local sights.
As is clear from the reviews here, a major attraction is the property’s distinction as a foodie destination. Guests are invited to go to the fabulous fish market in the mornings to choose the food for that night’s dinner. It is certainly unlike the fish counter at Waitrose, here things are scaley, bloody, sometimes only just stopped flapping and sometimes as large as a human corpse. The fishing boats at the back of the market are busy filling up the stalls as the fish sells.
You are invited to help in the kitchen should you wish. There is a recipe book available written by the celebrated Faiza Moosa, a charming and generous hostess and consummate cook. Meals are included and breakfasts lunches and dinners are exceptionally delicious and interesting. We have encountered many Indian home-stays with parts of this formula but none with the lot or so successfully carried through. The dinner table is central to the hospitality and reputation of the property.
The house and site are also part of the charm of Ayesha Manzil. The premises are a heritage house on a headland overlooking the Arabian Sea. It’s furnished with period furniture, hardwood floors and many original features. There is an established garden able to provide early fresh mangoes.
The swimming pool is small but charming and overlooks the sea.
This adds up to a formula that Europeans, especially Brits, love. To substantiate Moosa’s claims about word-of-mouth, many clients are repeat guests. Some come regularly.
As we all learn, there are serpents in paradise, and Ayesha Manzil doesn’t work for everyone. Were my best friend about to book in to the property there are a few caveats I would offer.
The major one is to do with the fact that it is a heritage property which doesn’t necessarily mean twenty-first century luxury, let alone comfort. As other reviewers have commented the floorboards creak, the doors don’t always close smoothly, the bathrooms function well in their own eccentric way and though the rooms are spacious and there many characterful chairs in the bedrooms, there are few comfortable ones. The lights and wiring are antique and unhelpful to the literate. Frankly, you need to be a little forgiving or spartan to relish the bedrooms. There is air-conditioning. There is no television (thank goodness). Wi-fi is free and works well on the downstairs verandah.
The bathroom may be a challenge. As in many Indian properties there is no plug in the wash-hand basin and the excellent hot water is supplied for the shower only, not the basin. The shower itself is in an unusual tiled enclosure with two pillars and steps, a challenge to the maladroit. Everything is adequately clean though not fastidiously so. Don’t expect lavish toiletries nor a hair-dryer.
Mosquitoes are a problem, though our beds were netted and there are plug-in anti-mozzie appliances. If you are sitting out in the early evening you will need protection from the small but insistently voracious mosquitoes.
There is a major road between the house and the sea below the cliffs so traffic noise can be heard at times.
With only possibly three other couples staying, you need to be happy to share meals and chat. All meals are served with the guests at one table. The experience depends greatly on who your fellow guests are. On the other hand where more people stay, there is often a formality, a stand-offishness, whereas here, in our experience, everyone does get along happily. The nature of those who come to Ayesha Manzil is such that it is very much the case of it being kindred spirits. At least there are people who can find much in common including shared experiences of the many properties in the south.
In our opinion it is quite unlike any other small property or homestay. It is strongly characterful and, though you understand why people are fiercely enthusiastic about it, equally it seems reasonable to not get on with what it offers. It may be the Marmite factor – you either love it or dislike it.
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Date of stay: February 2014
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We ended our road trip last destination at Ayesha Manzil. With an essence of excellent mopilah (Muslim cuisine from the area) food and hospitality we had a great stay here. To search in google maps you might have to type 'Zuhra Manzil'. This mansion was known as the judges bungalow and was bought by Mr Moosa's great grandfather. The rooms are massive and you can get the climpse of old kerala architecture.His wife Ms Faiza is an awesome and famous chef and an authority on mopilah cuisine. The staff is very good and helpful. The breakfast and dinner served was out of the world.
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Date of stay: April 2015
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm afraid I really can't help on this as we took a full package holiday covering many places and just paid a lump sum which included flights as well.
Hope that
Maybe if you look at their website you may get an idea of costs or one of the many sites like booking. com that may be be able to assist. Hope that helps.
There are more places to choose from in the Thalassery area.
LOCATION
IndiaKeralaKannur DistrictThalassery
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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