Holiday with earth
Hibiscus is a boutique holiday villa situated in a small sleepy hamlet in Kerala. Narrow ribbon-like roads off the main highways, hardly an hour’s drive from the circuit of everything that makes Kerala, God’s own, take you to this lakeside villa. Ostensibly far from the madding crowd, Hibiscus is nestled beside the Vembanadu Lake, which is a part of Kerala’s fascinating backwaters. The villa offers a way of life that has a heart for the earth around; a life that helps minimise the impact on the environment, while also seeking connection with nature.
About Us
A different genre of a fully-serviced villa, Hibiscus was the brain child of Thomas and Rosie who are passionate about ideas of green and healthy living. They envisioned a home where they could live with all the comforts they were used to but with ecological considerations. Respecting natural resources, learning from local traditions, and listening to their own practical instincts, Thomas built Hibiscus using recycled building materials. The design of the villa is a contemporary interpretation of typical Kerala architecture. Harvesting rain water, growing organic fruits and vegetables in the garden and making intelligent lifestyle choices.
The Experience
Like the Hibiscus flower, distinctive and sometimes referred to as the ideal flower, a holiday at Hibiscus offers more than anything one would expect of a typical tropical lakeside destination. Besides being just a boutique holiday villa in a fascinating location, Hibiscus transports you through different experiences. Of non-intrusive, unpackaged, un-hotel-like opportunities to unwind. The multi-tasking caretaker and family with their unschooled but natural refinement, also with all the rawness of a local, display genuine and warm hospitality only places hidden from the glare of the bustling mainland can offer. A time here will be that of discovery, palpable silence and redefining of life as you know it.
Habitat
While lounging by the dazzling pool at the villa one can see how life thrives around the intertwined waterways where the natives live so comfortably with their natural surroundings. Life here has a pace of its own dictated by nothing else but the rising of the sun and the setting of the same.
Living Spaces
Hibiscus can comfortably accommodate a maximum of six persons at a time. Thoughtfully designed and sensitively built it offers stunning view of the lake from every room. Indoor and outdoor dining spaces makes meal times a special experience.
Food
The food offered at the villa is the local cuisine which our caretaker is a master at. This is the Syrian Christian cuisine influenced over the years by the Portuguese and English. It encompasses an interesting combination of vegetables, meats and seafood flavoured with a variety of spices and characterised with the use of coconut. The location offers a good variety of fresh seafood which shouldn’t be missed. Often the villa offers its own freshly picked organic vegetables and fruits. The caretaker can also prepare suitable vegetarian fare as well.
Resident Caretaker
Our multi-tasking caretaker, Kuruvilla, who stays with his family on the premises in an adjacent villa, will assist you with anything you need while holidaying at the villa.
Around Hibiscus
Though Hibiscus's appeal is its relative seclusion, the location offers a variety of activities.
Alleppey & Mararikulam
Just twenty minutes by road takes you to Alappuzha (Alleppey) also known as the Venice of the East, a small town today but was once upon a time the hub of all spice trading activities Also within the circuit is the unspoiled Mararikulam beach which is every beach-combers dream come true.
Explore the backwaters
At The heart of the backwaters is the vast Vembanad lake where the villa is situated. Explore the peaceful and picturesque palm-line network of lagoons, lakes, canals and rivers.
Ayurveda
There are reputed Ayurvedic treatment centres in the area where one could opt for simple massages to health rejuvenating programs.