Island Idyll

The Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty has a flair for luxurious comfort, finds Charukesi Ramadurai

- Charukesi Ramadurai

As soon as I stepped into the main foyer of the newly opened Grand Hyatt at Kochi’s Bolgatty Island, I understood what was so grand about it: the view. The property overlooks the serene backwaters of Vembanad Lake, stretching out beyond the green lawns in the back.

The same vista welcomed me in my room on an upper floor, where a large glass window made up one wall. The lake was still and lifeless, reflecting the mood of the Kerala sky during the monsoon months. That did not dampen my own spirits one bit however, and I sat by the window with a cup of coffee to watch the few odd boats bob up and down on the distant water.

My first meal at the hotel was at Colony Clubhouse and Grill, its décor a nod to the marine and nautical history of the region. It also doubles up as a rooftop bar, offering sprawling views of Kerala’s famous greens and blues (although they were yet to get their liquor licence at the time of my visit). Shana Susan Ninan, the marketing communications manager, joined me for a leisurely lunch, as chef Prakash Sundaram took me through the concept behind the restaurant—colonial cuisine and cooking techniques such as pickling, curing and grilling. The food is a nod not just to the more obvious influences in this area, such as the Portuguese and British, but all incomers, including the Egyptians and Arabs who had arrived here as traders.