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.