Cranganor History Cafe and Riverside Chateau
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Cranganor History Café & Riverside Château, Elenthikkara, Puthenvelikara, Kerala, India
A Riverside Retreat
Cranganor History Cafe and Riverside Chateau

Cranganor is a quaint riverside resort located in an idyllic village in the vicinity of the Muziris Heritage Project. Located on the banks of the River Periyar, the Château has long river views and interior/ exterior spaces seamlessly blending into one another.  Located on 1.5 acres of land with 150 meters of riverfront, every room enjoys long views of Kerala’s largest and longest river, the perennial Periyar which is Kerala’s source for not just drinking water but an inspiration for many a poet and writer. At the site of the Château, the Periyar is just a few km from the sea, mingling with backwater canals and lagoons with the untainted rural Kerala landscape on its banks. Wake up to birds chirping and fishermen gliding past in their vallams (country boats),ruminate at the edge of the infinity pool, or sip tea in your balcony. Let the peace and tranquility wash over you. Have a little quiet by the river.

Perfectly Rare

Riverside tranquility beside a sleepy residential village. Sumptuous local cuisine, fresh catch of the day from local fishermen, walks to the local markets, ancient synagogues, church fetes, temple festivals, boat races, cycling along the vast paddy fields and to sit by the river, that’s...

Know Your Host

Cranganor is a labour of love for Vineeth & Rasmi. “There was an instant connection when we walked into this riverside spot, you could feel the magic in the air” It was everything about the place - the spectacular river views, the lush greenery all around, the sleepy little village...

Cranganor History Café & Riverside Château is a boutique riverside resort located on the river Periyar in the region of the old port city of Muziris (near Kochi, Kerala) offering authentic experiences dedicated to local heritage, riverside culture, religion, art, village life, fishing, food and more. The architectural style is inspired by the Indo - Dutch language of Kerala Architecture that is seen all over Kochi region - notably the historic Paliyam Palace linked to the ancient kingdom of Kochi, one the famous buildings in the vicinity. This allows a double storeyed structure with luxuriant colonnaded verandahs all around.

"Cranganor is a double storied structure with luxuriant colonnaded verandahs all around. The rooms are all spacious and set such that they all face the river.

River Meadow : Set on riverside lawns, with long river views, king-sized beds, bathrooms featuring tubs/ courtyards, colonial furniture. Burnished oxide floor off sets the majestic four-poster bed and antique dresser. The sliding doors to the balcony frame the river and lawns postcard like. An open-air bathroom completes the sunny summer stay.
River Panorama : First floor rooms with a magnificent 360-degree view of the river, with queen-sized beds and a loo-with-a-view. Cool blue and warm mustard oxide floor sets off the antique furniture. Warm sunlight pours in through the old style coloured glass doors while sliding doors to the balcony frame the river and lawns like in a postcard. A spacious bathroom with luscious views completes your stay where the sky is always a roof overhead. 

Poolside Rooms : Walk right into the 20-meter infinity pool. These rooms overlook the infinity edge of the pool and the river beyond. Beds are Queen/Double. Step right into a 20 meter infinity pool on the rivers edge."

Dining

For 3000 years, ocean-goers from Greece, Rome, China, Arabia, Portugal, Holland & Britain have visited Kerala, adding their recipes to the melting-pot that is Kerala's cuisine. The River Periyar is Kerala’s source for not just water, power and inspiration, but is also rich in river catch. At the site of the Château, the river is just a few km from sea, mingling with backwater canals and lagoons, forming an estuary rich in Prawn, Pearl Spot, Snapper, Mullet, Baramundi and Clam. Cranganor specialises in sea food and local vegetarian cuisine. 

Go for a languorous swim in the luxurious infinity pool overlooking the river, indulge in an Ayurvedic massage at the spa or kayak in the river. As Cranganor is located in the middle of the Muziris heritage project, one is a walk away from some beautifully restored ancient monuments. Go on a bicycle trail to the nearby fields, or experience life on the water on a boat tour. 

 

Cranganor History Café & Riverside Château is located in the region of an old port city, which historians and archaeologists are now uncovering to be ancient India’s gateway to civilizations with a history dating back more than three millennia.

Water Conservation: Rainwater harvesting tanks make Cranganor self-sufficient, as the tanks have a capacity of over one lakh litres.

Safe Garbage Disposal: Food waste is recycled to local piggeries; glass, plastic, and metal are disposed of as per village panchayat norms.

Local Community Engagement: Most of the staff employed are from the village, both directly and indirectly. This applies not just to the staff but also to the fishermen, tailors, weavers, auto rickshaw drivers, and craftsmen with whom the retreat engages.

Sensitive Destination Discovery: The region’s rich cultural and historical heritage can be easily explored with Cranganor as the base.

Heritage Preservation: Rasmi’s connection with the region began in 2011 when her work in the area of conserving and revitalising the traditional craft of handloom in Kerala brought her to the village across the river, Chendamangalam, one of the traditional centres of excellence of a craft that is now quickly perishing. Programmes at the amphitheatre host a variety of heritage art forms like Tholpaavakuthu, Mizhavu Melam, Pulluvan Pattu, and local village music groups. Guests can attend the Mudiyettu, which is an intangible heritage art form recognised by UNESCO and Chavittunadakam - a part theatre, part opera, and part dance drama.

Human Touch: Working with and helping uplift the locals to help preserve the unique culture of the region.

The RARE Sustainability Quotient is a self-audit tool that is used by our hotel partners to measure, document, and assess their planet and people friendly practices and is based on the RARE Touchstones.

The Human Touch
RARE Tip
Enjoy picturesque river views, sea food, infinity pool, village walks & explore the heritage of a forgotten city.
Facilities

Reviews and Location
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

A very relaxing stay
by Jayant J on 03/21/2024

Initially looking for a beach resort not far from Cochin, we were disappointed to find nothing available for our dates. Looking away from the sea we found the Cranganor and as it turned out we were...

Lovely hotel in a very tranquil setting with excellent food and staff
by Dyerbeast on 03/04/2024

Wow, what a find. Stayed here with family and the 4 of us absolutely loved it. The setting is amazing with wonderful views over the Periyar river. We loved the heritage feel of the stylish green and...

Excellent in every way
by Tessa F on 03/01/2024

I can’t recommend this place highly enough. It was our first and last accommodation during our 2 week travels in Kerala. The pool next to the lazy river will now be on my little list of happy places...

Nearest Airport : Cochin International Airport- 20 kms
Nearest Railway Station : Ernakulam Railways Station- 33 kms

Cancellation Policy:
  • No cancellation fee before check in if cancelled – prior to 45 days.
  • 25% Retention on Booking amount before check in if cancelled – prior to 30 days.
  • 50% Retention on Booking amount before check in if cancelled – prior to 15 days.
  • 100% Retention on Booking amount before check in if cancelled – prior to 7 days.
  • 100% Retention on Booking amount on No Show
  • Cancellations of Credit card and online payments will be charged 5% extra.
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