If time ever permits, I will write up the saga that ensued. To transform an isolated seaside palm grove into a five-star retreat hotel in a part of communist Kerala that had barely seen Westerners before, has been an extraordinary story: full of incident, drama, setbacks and triumphs. A real roller-coaster, always set against the backdrop of India’s implacable and elephantine bureaucracy. Once the project was planned, it was the team of directors, none of whom had any previous hotel experience, who designed the overall site layout, dimensions of the rooms etc. as well as almost every detail, from the furniture to the swimming pool. Then followed fittings for rooms, restaurant and clinic, plus the ever-ongoing website and publicity material. Everything was done in-house. It was a lengthy and demanding labour of love, and I like to think that this focused attention is reflected in the Hermitage’s integrated and harmonious atmosphere.

The next challenge was marketing – how to get across to an industry that thinks in boxes that The Hermitage is not a typical ‘beach resort’ or ‘luxury hotel’, nor a traditional yoga centre or ashram, but something in-between. How were we to sell a sophisticated and stylish retreat where you can get back in touch with your deeper self in whatever ways you wish – total relaxation, yoga, meditation, ayurveda – and also learn more about India by availing yourself of the ongoing lecture programme, something that no other hotel in India has?

Overall, we are constantly working to create the sort of calm and welcoming atmosphere you would find when visiting home of a dear friend: relaxed, familiar, and nourishing. Catering to clients from all around the word and a great diversity of cultures, we feel we have developed intuition as to what people really want when they come on holiday. Much of the success of this inner voice depends on the unobtrusive yet highly attentive teamwork behind the scenes, operating in such a way as to provide what is wanted before a conscious need is felt. This intuitive way of hosting is only possible by choosing staff who have the potential to grow with us, for all of us together are on a journey that has only just begun.

Little by little though, the market is recognizing who and what we are, and they like it. In fact, we must be doing something right. Within our first year of operation, Conde Nast referred to us as ‘this near perfect haven of peace and pampering’, Vogue has us as one of the top ten eco-hotels in the world, Tatler included us in their ‘Top 101 Hotels’ and The Sunday Telegraph voted us one of the top four Auyurvedic retreats in Kerala. By 2019, we had won a dozen awards. And, more importantly, clients love us and the repeat bookings keep coming in…

Anyway, this is just a little background to The Hermitage. Do visit the site www.neeleshwarhermitage.com and then come and visit us in person. You are assured of a very warm welcome.