Svatma

Svatma is located in Tamil Nadu and strives to epitomise Tamil culture, arts, architecture, culinary heritage and culture. The property has no standard rooms, but instead there are 38 uniquely designed rooms. When staying at Svatma there is a feeling that you are staying in a grand family home. Rooms are private, secluded and luxurious and have modern amenities. The hotel has a gym and yoga centre, Argoyam, where experienced teachers can guide you. Soukyam, the luxury spa has 4 private treatments rooms and a relaxation area for foot and shoulder massages. Treatment and wellness plans can be made upon your arrival. The hotel also has a swimming pool and a jacuzzi.

Aaharam is a home style vegetarian restaurant, serving fine food all day, overlooking the pool. The unique menu is an exploration of Tamil cuisine in a la carte form. This restaurant is ideal for health conscious foodies wanting to explore the flavours of the region. Palaharam is located on the veranda and here you can enjoy fresh coffee and tiffin, as well as traditional health drinks and gourmet ethnic snacks. Nila is a terrace dining restaurant on the rooftop of the hotel, service delicious and memorable Tamil cuisine.

The hotel offers plenty of activities, including cooking classes that revolve around local nutritious vegetarian cuisine, bronze casting demonstrations showing the lost wax technique, chanting with priests, and chamber concerts with singers, percussionists and flautists. Guests can also enjoy visiting temples with experts on restoration and architecture, as well as learning about hand looming and weaving and the Tanjavur painting technique. Staying at Svatma is all about relaxation, wellness and appreciating and soaking up the local history, culture and traditions of Tamil Nadu.

When to go

Southern India’s tropical climate means the area isn’t as dry as much of India, though temperatures stay pretty consistent all year round. You can expect a light sprinkling of rain any time of year but the beaches are best visited during the months of November to February with warmer temperatures and minimal rainfall. The hot season between March to June brings high levels of humidity making it best to visit the hill stations which provide relief from the hotter lowlands. Monsoon season begins in July lasting until September, bringing marginally more rain than other times of the year. Once the monsoon subsides in September, the stunning emerald landscape marks an exceptional time for hiking or visiting hill stations.