Testimonials
Our guest reviews all testify to the excellence of our facilities and services.
Here at the Hermitage we are very happy to have had Mark Shand among our recent guests. Mark is a conservationist who wrote the delightful Travels on my Elephant - a travel adventure and story of his love affair with Tara his elephant - which the renowned travel writer Eric Newby lauded as ‘a pachydermic masterpiece’.
Shand now runs Elephant Family, a conservationist charity which does noble work as the UK's biggest funder for the endangered Asian elephant, whose numbers have plummeted by 80% in the past 100 years. It works to set up ‘elephant corridors’ as safe areas for the wild herds. The charity’s latest international project is Elephant Parades in many major cities worldwide.
Up to 250 large models of the pachyderm, made by well-known artists, are exhibited around the city before being auctioned. The one in London in 2010 raised GBP 4 million. As part of the event, a consignment of elephant dung large enough to fertilise the average suburban garden for a year was also auctioned durbar in Richmond, West London. This gathering of the great and the good was presided over by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as well as Britain's Asian business elite was well represented: steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and the millionaire king of the ready-made curry, Sir Gulam Noon, were among those attending.
The dung had been generously donated by three Indian elephants belonging to Lord Robin Russell, a trustee of the charity, and the chairman of Sotheby's conducted the sale. All in all it was a suitably grand affair for a noble cause and a noble creature.
On leaving us, Mark commented:
As usual, after 35 years of coming to India, Neeleshwar is my favourite place. Everyone is so kind and I feel rested and at peace! I will be back!!
"I like the complete concept. Really it speaks the culture of India, especially Kerala...
Everything to do with the details and the concept is very intricate and give good ambience and décor."
Sunday, 13 April 2025
"We LOVED the Neeleshwar Hermitage which exceeded all my expectations...
Delicious food, charming staff and the added bonus of Alistair Shearer. The hotel were very helpful about organising a visit to a local Theyyam festival where we had the most amazing welcome and everyone seemed pleased that we had come to the celebration. Some of the things we liked were the staff, the massage, the food and, of course the amazing beach."
Sunday, 10 November 2024
"Neeleshwar combines the divine holy trinity of a beautiful empty beach, an excellent Keralan chef and a team of staff who radiate good grace."
Thursday, 7 November 2024
"Thank you for your hospitality...
I enjoyed my brief stay immensely and shall promote Neeleshwar to any of my clients touring the North Kerala/South Karnataka region as a great relaxation beach retreat at the end of their tour.' Sharon Evans, Indian Subcontinent Specialist, Western Oriental Travel, London. 'Oh! This place is amazing. At last I have found a nice place to stay on the beach: comfortable, well-constructed, intimate and with a particularly good taste in decoration. What else to say? It is peaceful, beautiful, with this fantastic swimming pool and splendid garden. Thank you all for the wonderful stay I spent here and a special mention for the good food (I am crazy now for those mint potatoes!).'
Saturday, 2 November 2024
"We thought long and often about the perfect way to end this part of our travel in India....
Neeleshwar hermitage looked to be completely perfect. What has amazed and delighted us are all the thoughtful , wonderful people we had met here. The service has been perfect all around, a stunning week! Thank you to all. "
Saturday, 19 October 2024
"The silence and the purity of the ocean and the sky are mesmerizing...
The place is not only beautiful but paradise: making you aware of something greater. We enjoyed the naturalism and elegance of the buildings and appreciate how it fits into the local environment. Not only is this place beautiful but it is close to important spiritual places like the Nityananda Ashram, a place of utmost peace for us, it was of greatest significance because we follow a spiritual path that is based on the tradition Nityananda founded. We did not know that these places are so close to Neeleshwar when we came here. So we are sure that people will find a lot when they come here: relaxing, healing and a deeper dimension to life. Of course there is also to mention that the people here are lovely"
Saturday, 19 October 2024
"Neeleshwar Hermitage hotel in Kerala is an oasis of eco-friendly activity: local techniques and materials were used in its constructions, rain water is conserved and harvested, solar energy is used wherever possible, natural waste is recycled and all water is purified on site. 12 Cottages sit in a palm grove along an unspoiled beach; the Priya Spa offers Ayurvedic treatments"
Wednesday, 16 October 2024
"This is a fantastic place and I really enjoyed my stay. The room is comfortable, bathroom great and the area delightful.
It is ideal as a place to relax at the end of a tour and we shall certainly be recommending you to our customers".
Wednesday, 16 October 2024
"This near perfect haven of peace and pampering.... "
Thursday, 3 October 2024
"A gem of a beach, spacious and comfortable cottages and great food...
Along with the cultural experiences, Neeleshwar has got the ingredients right"
Wednesday, 2 October 2024
"Thank you all for giving me such a wonderful stay...
I felt relaxed, safe, cared for and pampered during my visit. The kindness of the staff was outstanding. My room was beautiful and comfortable ...although it took me over 24 hours to travel to Neeleshwar Hermitage from the United States, I would definitely visit again on my next trip to India."
Friday, 20 September 2024
"It took God seven days to create this world...
- in the same time we were not able to find a good reason for any complaint . Sorry for that,dear GM!! .Wish you all the best for the future." (PS: We were jailed in by beauty!)"
Monday, 9 September 2024
"Situated on India's south-western tip, Kerala is home to many working models of responsible tourism. A star example is the newly opened Neeleshwar Hermitage..."
Wednesday, 4 September 2024
"An exceptional retreat. Excellent food and peerless staff. Thank you"
Tuesday, 27 August 2024
"Neeleshwar represents, really, the perfect distillation of what so many Westerners, from E.M.Forster and Allen Ginsberg to the Beatles, have come to India in an attempt to find: an escape from the pressures and frenzied pace of our lives. The transition from stressed-out to blissed-out, however, is surprisingly swift...in just a few days, I am barefoot, loose-limbed and clear-headed, with a sensation of wellbeing that, I later discover, I carry with me long afterwards"
Saturday, 10 August 2024
"After many invites from Simon I have made it...what a surprise! It is a breath of fresh air, and not just literally.
A secret hideaway at an extremely high standard in India. I have already fallen in love with the vision you all have. Can't wait for the updates !"
Wednesday, 7 August 2024
"A truly relaxing and beautiful retreat - wonderful location too. We are very impressed by the high standard and your vision. Thank you"
Sunday, 4 August 2024
French – "Et le Neeleshwar Hermitage, à conseiller très vivement aux personnes qui souhaitent calme et repos : le paradis sur terre ! tout y est conçu pour le bien-être des clients dans un cadre de rêve. Le personnel est incroyablement attentionné, la nourriture vraiment succulente et puis, il n’y a que 16 chambres… ! ."
Saturday, 29 June 2024
English - "And the Neeleshwar Hermitage, to advise very strongly to people who want quiet and rest: Paradise on Earth! everything is designed for the well-being of the customers in a dream setting. The staff is incredibly attentive, and then really succulent food, there are 16 rooms...! "
"To date, Kerala’s best beach resorts have all been found to the south of Cochin, but this will change in July this year when the Neeleshwar Hermitage opens near Bekal.
Sixteen very spacious cottages each with private courtyard garden, fine cuisine, an Ayurvedic spa and a wonderfully unspoilt beach where you can flop and be pampered will offer the perfect antidote to the hills and jungles of northern Kerala…and you will avoid having to make the long journey south."
Saturday, 15 June 2024
"Perfect for a relaxed beach holiday. Neeleshwar Hermitage in Malabar is set in a palm grove directly on the shore. The retreat is made up of 16 thatched cottages and has a spa, Ayurvedic centre and infinity pool. The hotel aims to enhance wellbeing and offers ayurvedic treatments, yoga, meditation and organic treatments. The main restaurant has vegetarian food while the beachside eatery serves freshly caught seafood. The Hermitage is also eco-friendly and built according to Kerala Vastu, which says that a building should be in harmony with its surroundings."
Friday, 17 May 2024
"Could not improve on what is offered...
a perfect place to find your inner peace and yourself. Felt like home and the staff nurtures and takes care of you without being obtrusive. Thank you - we will see you again!’"
Wednesday, 15 May 2024
"This is an amazing place and I am already looking forward to returning...
Love the concept, location, staff and the beautiful room".
Monday, 6 May 2024
"Really magnificent, faultless...
A place is made by its people and here you have the very best and kindest. Thank you all very much for making our stay so wonderful. We will be back. Be warned!"
Thursday, 2 May 2024
"Our second time here and it just like home, delicious food, vey nice and efficient service and the place …is absolutely great.
See you soon with another group."
Sunday, 28 April 2024
"Will be back soon. there for the fifth time! And then for the best of my life!"
Friday, 26 April 2024
"It was a fantastic relaxing holiday
and I regret having to go back to the real world again but hopefully I am able to come back next year. Thank you so much!"
Friday, 26 April 2024
A very peaceful and tranquil place with extremely helpful staff.
A gem hidden in the backwater of Kerala. A most re-visit place!!"
Tuesday, 16 April 2024
"For the last 8 days, we felt as if we are in paradise on earth...
It is such an outstanding place, you can’t imagine it before you have seen it. The restaurant manager was like a mother to us, and all the others, both visible and invisible helping hands, made our life very comfortable and easy. We are sorry to leave now, but we will come back and we hope to see all those happy and always laughing faces again. Please keep you uniqueness for the further future. We wish you all the best for every member of the staff. We came as guests and leave as friends."
Monday, 15 April 2024
"A really wonderful new find - and such terrific food and staff...
We greatly appreciated the lectures. We'll be back!"
Sunday, 14 April 2024
Recalling my memory. Really nostalgic. Thank you
Saturday, 23 March 2024
"Neeleshwar Hermitage is the first luxury resort to open in the unspoiled and relatively unexplored coast of northern Kerala. Unlike southern Kerala there are no hotels here, no beach bars and definitely no crowds. Its location, on an empty sweep of soft while sand, flanked by a freshwater lagoon and surrounded by coconut and mango groves, is nature untamed. Eagles, kingfishers and herons glide above the 16 thatches cottages that house spacious, minimal bedrooms, built using sustainable wood. The Hermitage is eco-friendly; local toiletries help minimize the impact of the resort on the environment. Staff is friendly and warm, and the relaxed atmosphere is instantly calming. Food at Neeleshwar presents a tasty collusion of Indian, Middle-Eastern and European influences. The emphasis is on fresh ingredients cooked with an authentic flair and each morning fisherman haul in their catch of fish from the nearby waters. Learn how to cook like a local under the expert tuition of resort chefs at one of the cookery classes, or let some one else do the work and feast in the al-fresco fish restaurant or at the delicious Annapurna restaurant. The Ayurvedic Priya Spa offers a range of treatments, from the restful smruthi, where warm oil is dripped onto the forehead, to the jet-lag busting sajooya. Whilst Neeleshwar offers a busy range of activities and events - from astrology to bird-watching - guests are equally welcome to take it easy and lounge on the beach while soaking up the pristine paradise. The restorative Ayurvedic energy must be in the air, after our stay we floated out feeling blissfully relaxed. This is the beauty of northern Kerala, the pace is so laidback you can't help but give in and unwind. Get there now - before the masses arrive and it loses its lazy Bohemian charm."
Monday, 11 March 2024
"A truly relaxing retreat with all the comforts and luxuries necessary for a memorable stay...
I only wish we could have stayed longer".
Thursday, 7 March 2024
"The perfect ending to a trip through India, relaxing amazing food and service. Simply excellent."
Monday, 23 October 2023
"Neeleshwar, a small coastal village in Northern Kerala, has many gods - Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian take your pick - and more than a hint of the divine. .... A journey along the Malabar Coast, as the area is romantically known, is an Indian myth made real...This place - with its red earth as if imported from Mars - feels other; this isn't the India where you queue for a stature or jostle for a seat; northern Kerala gets hardly any tourists and lacks the tick-box sights you find elsewhere. This is its magic; strange things happen here, tales of the unexpected."
Saturday, 17 June 2023
"A true paradise! A haven of serenity and calm away from the bustle of modern India.
The staffs are so kind, warm and caring. I truly felt pampered. A wonderful location and a beautiful sea to swim in, and of course the birds in the lagoon, the delicious food and the amazing massages. Thank you very much!"
Friday, 14 April 2023
"Wonderful location...
The room was very comfortable and beautifully furnished. I look forward to coming back!"
Monday, 13 March 2023
Beautiful ending tour one week Indian tour. We hope to be back soon.
Lovely rooms, lovely beaches and delicious food."
Monday, 23 January 2023
Very nice place. Very good stay here for 2 days. Peaceful, quiet and natural surroundings. Lovely place for holiday.
Very good food- Both north Indian and south Indian. Great work chef! Thank everybody for making our stay fantastic and memorable. P.S. Fantastic room also.
Monday, 14 November 2022
What a truly lovely place. We have just not been here long enough!
The food is fantastic and the staffs are excellent. The location is truly idyllic. We will be coming back soon- and for longer.
Saturday, 12 November 2022
Un Endroit de rele parterminer un voyage en Inde du Sud: Une magnifique plage, des chambers tres comfortables, un service attentive, le sarive en …
Tuesday, 8 November 2022
An absolute delight and tragedy that we have only 3 days here on my ‘fasting menu’ tour of India.
A wonderful stay which we will highly recommend.
Tuesday, 1 November 2022
What a wonderful place to enjoy our honeymoon.
Early morning swim, beautiful sunsets and great food! A really specific stay. Thank you so much.
Saturday, 29 October 2022
So lovely clean and healing.
Thank you all for a perfect time, see you again . Love and thanks.
Thursday, 27 October 2022
"What a pity only one night in gods own country……Kerala. This surely must be piece of paradise."
Tuesday, 25 October 2022
Just wonderful. Thank you.
Saturday, 22 October 2022
A sensation as a bird, I think I can fly.
Amazing place, Amazing hands.. Amazing UTOPIA .
Thursday, 20 October 2022
"Wonderful, wonderful time. Peaceful beyond peaceful.
Spiritual. Beautiful. Calm. The staff was wonderful. Alistair - a genius! We will be back."
Monday, 17 October 2022
Thank you for the welcoming and for taking care of me.
It was really nice. Thanks a lot for this very nice moment. Quite and great moment .
Sunday, 16 October 2022
Thank You so much for a 2 day break with ‘Shanti’ and friendly service. Torril’s recommendation was a good one.
Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Thank you so much for your kind hospitality at the heavenly Neeleshwar Hermitage.
I genuinely mean it, it is heaven on earth and my most favourite place in the world.
Tuesday, 4 October 2022
It was sublime. The staff, surroundings, rooms, food, decor, absolutely everything is perfect. I cannot wait to return.
Your kindness has given us so many memories, which we will treasure always.
Thank you Altaf, your kindness and generosity is so appreciated.
A supreme treat. Fantastic stay with a professional staff, wonderful food. Undoubtedly, I will be back next year.
Thanks for wonderful and loving experience.
Sunday, 2 October 2022
Rani has taken such a amazing care of me for the last week.
I feel like a completely different person. Truly the best Christmas present – lots of tender love and care. So thank you Rani ! And everyone else at the spa who has been lovely and kind.
Tuesday, 27 September 2022
"Extremely good.No words."
Sunday, 25 September 2022
Great experience! Unbelievable emotions! Thank you so much!
Sunday, 18 September 2022
It has been a real dream to stay here! This is a paradise! Please keep it like that for a long long time.
Wednesday, 14 September 2022
Exceptional. I have been fortunate to stay in many beautiful places, but Neeleshwar is the most serene of all.
Thursday, 8 September 2022
Thank you so much for the wonderful service. We loved the room! See you soon.
Monday, 5 September 2022
A so relaxing time in this paradise. Life is beautiful.
Friday, 12 August 2022
As usual – everything was first class- had a great time- will carry fond memories of Neeleshwar back to the USA.
P.S. You have a great staff.
Monday, 8 August 2022
We were sceptical at first: the hotel was full so we took Lotus as a secand choice but are now truly converted.
"Have been coming to India for 30 years. And this is one of the most beautiful Experience, Blissful, gentle, Dreamy, Sujith and Deepak and the rest of the crew are so perfect for this boat.Fabulous creative Food ; Everything smooth and peaceful and nature,respected.We envy the next guests on Lotus and We shall return next year and remember this little passage with joy and a degree of longing Thank you... And thank you Altaf for sugesting this, How could we have doubted it".
Friday, 5 August 2022
Thank You for a blissfully restful stay in a perfect impression of paradise.
Loved every moment and your staff are first class! Beautiful place and beautiful people!
Wednesday, 13 July 2022
Left me thouroughly relaxed. Completely enjoyable experience.
Saturday, 25 June 2022
Such a relaxing and peaceful moment. Very enjoyable aromas, Thanks!
Monday, 13 June 2022
I don’t know how I managed to stay awake throughout the treatment.
Totally relaxing. Thank you.
Wednesday, 25 May 2022
A beautiful retreat, the infinity pool is simply stunning with one of the loveliest views imaginable.
The food is the art of this world consistently as is the friendly and alternative service. The villas are also comfortable, peaceful and extremely tasteful. I wish we could have stayed longer!.
Saturday, 21 May 2022
What can one say other than bliss!
Lovely, wonderful, gentle and soothing massage and masseurs. Do not change a thing coz it is beautiful as it is. Thank you so much for looking after us. Many blessings to you all.
Sunday, 15 May 2022
As usual – everything was first class- had a great time- will carry fond memories of Neeleshwar back to the USA.
P.S. You have a great staff.
Sunday, 13 March 2022
This spa is perfect. Such gentle people and perfect treatments. I feel so special. Looking forward to next year.
Thanks for wonderful and loving experience.
Wednesday, 2 March 2022
OK - Five weeks in India - Only four days here - we should have done it the other way round - five weeks here – four weeks for the rest
Even thought of cancelling next two weeks and staying here. Bliss!!!
Wednesday, 2 March 2022
"Lovely and relaxing. Very beautiful.
The massages are truly invigorating. The staffs are exceptionally warm and welcoming."
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
A second visit and just as special. So nice to be remembered by so many of the team a year on...
Feel a bit remote from the near world outside the walls. Tell me what is happening there and bring local people to perform.
Thursday, 17 February 2022
Extraordinary, beautiful and really peaceful- and what food and service!
Monday, 14 February 2022
"I have thought of you such a lot over the winter in your ‘paradise’.
I hope that it continues to flourish. It is a very healing place. I left there more relaxed than I can remember '
Sunday, 13 February 2022
A truly fantastic resort.
Quite possibly the best tranquil get away in all of India.Thank you for your hospitality and I will be sure to recommend the resort.
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Bliss! Thanks so much. Beautiful place.
Thursday, 6 January 2022
It is a wonderful place to rest and recover.
The people is very friendly, the facilities well kept. You feel like in heaven. Thank to all the staff.
Saturday, 18 December 2021
