3 December, 2010
Travel

Trinity at Fort Cochin, India

3 December, 2010

Piracy, the Spice Islands and sailing the high seasโ€ฆexperience a taste of the spice route that wove its way through Asia 400 years ago at Trinity, located in the south-west state of Kerala in the town of Fort Cochin.

Trinity, which is converted from the former offices of the Dutch East India Trading Company, is a rather chic introduction to Cochin (also known as Kochi), a town which boasts an eclectic mix of buildings and influences from the British, Portuguese, Jewish, Dutch, Middle Eastern and Chinese sailors and traders who settled here in the past.

An offshoot of Malabar House, the effortlessly bohemian main hotel, Trinity has only three suites and oozes exclusivity. The hip design contributes to this feel, with the three rooms offering a tropical mix of loft-style bedrooms decked out with cool prints and โ€˜garden bathroomsโ€™ โ€“ yup, completely secluded private bathrooms in the great outdoors. Japanese-style slippers and kimonos are provided if youโ€™re feeling a bit modest.

In each suite (named red, yellow and blue), the primary colour schemes are โ€“ unsurprisingly โ€“ lovely and refreshing crimson red, sunny yellow or cobalt blue. Thereโ€™s not that much in the way of facilities at Trinity, but with free run of Malabar Houseโ€™s restaurant, spa and swimming pool (which is just a few minutesโ€™ walk away), youโ€™ll never be bored. Try out the ayurvedic spaโ€™s fantastic massages and traditional Indian shirodhara treatment.

While youโ€™re in Kochin, must-sees include the beach and Chinese fishing nets (thought to be brought over to Kochi almost 500 years ago from China), and the Portuguese-style churches built in the 1500s. The city is a hodge-podge mix of all those who have lived there before โ€“ from the Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town to the Dutch Palace, which looks like itโ€™s been dropped into the city from an 18th century oil painting, Kochi never ceases to amaze.

A sunset cruise and tour of the backwaters (donโ€™t worry, itโ€™s much better than it sounds) also ranks high on the list of things to do. The backwaters are Keralaโ€™s beautiful lakes, estuaries, rivers and canals and youโ€™ll get to soak in the sights and sounds of the paddies, islands and lush green fields. History has never been this much fun.

Deluxe blue suite from EUR 190 per room per night (approximately HKD 2,000).

For bookings or more information, please contact [email protected].

Recommended by Quintessentially, the worldโ€™s leading luxury lifestyle group with a 24-hour global concierge service. Committed to the notion that quality matters, whether it be travel, music, art, food, hotels, clubs, spas, restaurants, tickets or โ€“ most particularly โ€“ service, they aim to bring their members and clients nothing but the very best. www.quintessentially.com.

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