Our experience at Niraamaya was our favorite of our travels throughout India. From reception, we were treated like royalty. They were poised and seemed to be awaiting our arrival, with herbal towel for freshening and welcome drink to quench our thirst. We stayed in one of the private cottages, up on stilts, overlooking the lush, green jungle, all around. I had requested a private, quiet location and unfortunately that request was not accommodated on our first night. We were originally placed right next to the staff quarters, resulting in a bright light shining into our room and frequent, loud cell phone conversations. This room also overlooked a neighboring house with a barking dog. The next day, the lovely staff insisted that we move to another cottage that had just opened up and boy were we grateful. It was a bit removed from neighboring cottages and surrounded by jungle. Rumor has it, monkeys frequently visit the balcony of this cottage, but sadly we did not experience this during our stay. See my photos, as words cannot do the accommodations and scenery justice. I so enjoyed doing yoga on our balcony, in the jungle fog, listening to the beautiful sounds of birds calling to one another. The staff at Niraamaya was top notch and always ready to serve. Sadly, I can no longer recall all of their names but our server, Ravindra always made our dining room visits special with menu recommendations and pleasant conversation, inclusive of historical facts. He was a wealth of knowledge, educating us on the cuisine of both Southern and Northern India. The food was some of the best we had in India and many of the spices and fruits were cultivated on the property. The dining room itself, offered breathtaking views, surrounded by floor to ceiling windows and looking out onto the picturesque pool. We had the pleasure of taking in jungle storms while we were here, a welcomed contrast to the 365 days of sunshine we experience in Southern California. I can emphatically say that Niraamaya must be one of, if not the best place to stay when visiting the spectacular Kumily region. We would also recommend visiting the Periyar Tiger Reserve to experience nature in the raw. Do note that the drive up the mountain (we were coming from Varkala) is truly awe inspiring, it is a very windy road with many blind corners, so be sure to hire a driver you trust for the journey.
