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Resort Overview |
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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 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 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.
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Villas |
All the villas are spacious,
independent and located on the
outer dyke facing the peaceful
backwaters. The villas are named
after popular local flower
plants / trees and birds. The
first villa designed by Swiss
architect Karl Damscen is an
open plan affair. The other
villas designed by Thomas
Dominic from Kochi, have a
separate living room, bedroom
and ‘sit-out’.
The villas are filled with
antiques, including some
beautifully carved and crafted
doors and windows, which were
meticulously collected over a
period of time. There is no
air-conditioning, no telephone
and no TV in any of the villas.
TV and telephones are available
at our residence, should the
need arise.
There is a refrigerator and an
electric kettle in each room.
The villas are well furnished
with two large single beds,
wardrobe, cupboard, writing
table, and chair, settees and
chairs in the ‘sit-out’. Not to
forget the clean, dry and
spacious modern bathroom in each
villa. Extra beds are available
if needed, and there is also a
generator to backup the
electricity in case of any power
failure. All windows are netted
to check the entry of insects.
There are plenty of doors and
windows in each villa (18
windows and 8 doors) which open
on to the farm, garden and
backwaters, allowing for
excellent circulation of fresh
breeze and fascinating views
from within. This is in keeping
with the tradition of typical
backwater bungalows. The idea
was to make each villa an
integral part of the
surroundings so that by living
in one you are not cut off.
The floor is finished in rustic
clay tiles and the ceiling in
wood. There is also a small
verandah finished in traditional
red-oxide which runs around each
villa.
To complement the villas, there
is a beautiful thatched pavilion
on stilts, overlooking the farm
with views of the backwaters.
The pavilion opens on to a
small, neat courtyard under an
old mango tree. Just the kind of
setting for the lavish home
cooked meals and interaction.
In designing the villas, we kept
in mind all the traditional
features, and also the fact that
we were designing a house and
not a ‘hotel’ room.
When all this is combined with
the traditional, homely
hospitality, you cannot be
faulted if you think that it is
your second home.
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Food |
 Food is definitely one of the
highlights of staying at
Philipkuttys farm. The cuisine
is mostly local and cooked by my
skilful mother. Being a
traditional agrarian household,
lavish meals are more or less
the norm and pretty much a way
of life. All meals are included
in the price.
Meals are served either in the
family dining room or outdoors
in the courtyard or in the
pavilion itself. Self catering
facilities are minimal, with
only an electric kettle and
refrigerated mini-bar. The whole
family, or, atleast some of us
will definitely join with you
for all the meals. We are glad
to cater for any special diets
if needed and also provide for
vegetarian options too. In fact
all meals are discussed with the
guests.
We also cater for lunch parties
for non resident guests but only
on a prior arrangement basis. We
also offer cooking classes for
resident guests who are
interested in learning the local
cuisine.
 The cuisine is predominantly
Syrian Christian with a strong
backwater influence. Most of the
dishes served are centred around
fish, farm vegetables and
fruits, duck, chicken and
occasionally other meats,
supplemented with rice and rice
based local breads like appam,
string hoppers etc. Some of our
specialities are karimeen (pearlspot
fish) fry, fish molee, prawn and
scampi preparations, duck roast
and curry, and red hot Kerala
fish curry to name a few.
For the adventurous, drinking
Toddy (it is the fermented sap
of the coconut tree- a kind of
country liquor) is a must.
Desserts are usually puddings,
fresh fruits and some local
treats.
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Activities |
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● Enjoy a sunset cruise every evening
on a vallam (country boat) out in
the open backwaters. The
sights,
breeze, sounds and smell of the late
evenings are indeed very soothing.
If you are lucky
you can also catch
the moonrise.
● Take a canal cruise through the
narrow and winding canals on a
vallam or motor boat and catch
a
glimpse of the unique backwater
villages.
● For bird watchers the backwaters and
the farm offer ample opportunities
for sighting
kingfishers,
woodpeckers, egrets, cormorants,
herons, crowpheasants, snakebirds,
teals, etc.
● Ask for a cooking class from mum and
learn the nuances of the local
cuisine.
● Do a farm walk with any of us and
learn about farming below lake level
as well as the different
crops
cultivated. Do check out toddy
tapping.
● Walk around the island along the
outer dyke. This may take a little
under 3 hours and covers a
distance
of approximately 8 kms. You could
also walk in the village and the
market, across in
the mainland.
● Do a wider sightseeing and
exploration trip of the countryside
on a bicycle. A sketch of the
region
can be provided and you get to enjoy
the coconut groves, paddy fields,
canals and
villages that blend into
each other. Most of the roads in the
mainland are flat with little or no
gradient.
● For the adventurous try swimming in
the backwaters in front of the
villas.
● Visit the Ayurvedic Centre opposite
the property for consultation. Try
out rejuvenating
massages to proper
Ayurvedic treatments for various
ailments spread over weeks if need
be.
● Try fishing (rods available), or, if
you are lucky, check out if you can
spike scampi at night.
● Visit the St. Mary’s parish church
at Vechoor. This is an old church
with a history dating back to
over
500 yrs.
● Visit the local temples which are in
plenty, the Vaikom Siva temple being
the biggest and most
famous of the
lot.
● Visit a very old Nair Tharavad
(household) - ‘The Kaimals’. The
household has a history of over
400
yrs- their old wooden house being a
testimony of this. The family
temple, the old palm leaf
manuscripts, the temple art of
‘kalam’ drawing (for which only
natural and organic pigments are
used) and the tallest Snake God
statue are the other attractions
there.
● Watch the hundreds of fireflies in
the farm at night. You might just
mistake them for the stars.
● The property also offers an ideal
setting and is inspiring for serious
writers and artists.
● But, if you are the kind who wants
to just relax and cool off, sit on
the verandah or under the
trees and
dream or observe the passing
backwater life or catch up with your
reading. You could
also star gaze
into the clear pollution free night
sky.
● Finally you could engage the family
members and just chat about anything
and everything
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Ayurveda |
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‘Ayurveda’ denotes
‘the knowledge of life’ and it is
not only a system to cure diseases
but a system teaching us how to
achieve ‘Perfect Health’ from
diseased or abnormal conditions. It
also tells us how to lead our life,
both physical and mental, in order
to attain the bliss of real life.
Though
India is famous for Ayurveda, it is
Kerala that is in the forefront.
Ayurveda today is almost synonymous
with Kerala. Kerala has a special
type of Ayurvedic treatment. Though
the texts of lessons studied are the
same, the system of treatment is
entirely different and far more
effective as well. These special
Kerala treatments include Pizhichil
(oil bath), Ilakizhi (leaf bundle
massage), Navarakizhi (rice bundle
massage) etc. which are widely and
effectively used in the treatment of
illnesses such as arthritis,
paralysis, spinal problems, back
pain, gastric ulcers, etc. Or, you
could also choose to have only
rejuvenating massages for general
well being. Hence you could use the
opportunity of staying at our
property to enjoy the benefits of
Ayurveda.
There is an Ayurvedic centre just
across the property on the mainland.
The centre has a qualified doctor
and trained hands to help out. The
centre is a small and simple place
and does not have the trappings of a
spa or resort. Though the centre is
basic, appropriate facilities and an
authentic treatment is assured. The
centre can be reached in 10 minutes
from the property by taking the
ferry. This will be provided at no
additional cost.
Some of the popular Ayurvedic
treatments
Pizhichil - (oil bath)
In this treatment, lukewarm herbal
oil is applied all over the body by
two to four trained masseurs in a
special rhythmic way continuously
for a period of 7 to 21 days. This
treatment is very useful for
rheumatic diseases, nervous
weakness, nervous disorders, etc.
Navarakizhi - (rice bundle massage)
It is a process by which the whole
body or any specific part thereof is
made to perspire by the application
of certain medical puddings
externally in the form of bundles
tied up in muslin bag. This
treatment is for all types of
rheumatism, pain in the joints,
blood pressure, cholesterol and
certain kinds of skin diseases.
Dhara
In this process, some herbal oils,
medicated milk, medicated butter
milk etc. are poured on the forehead
in a special method. This treatment
is mainly for insomnia, mental
tension etc.
Sirovasthi
Certain lukewarm herbal oils are
poured into a cap fitted on the
head. This treatment is highly
effective for facial paralysis,
dryness of nostrils, mouth and
throat, severe headaches, etc.
Ilakizhi - (leaf bundle massage)
Herbal leaves and herbs or herbal
powders are applied to the whole
body in bundles with hot medicated
oils.
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