1) Cycling

Behind The Hermitage stretches a large network of small roads and lanes that give the visitor a wonderful experience of local life. The ideal way to explore this hinterland is by bike. You will enter a world of paddy fields, garden compounds, shrines, temples and mosques, and can follow a lovely coastline along which lie traditional fishing villages where boats and nets are made and repaired. 

There are several intriguing routes, taking anything between an hour and half day or more to complete, depending on how long you like to linger and explore. Why not take a picnic out from the hotel and make a real adventure of it? However long you spend, you will find that the local people are very friendly and will be intrigued by you in the most polite and good-humoured way!

2) Visit to Bekal Fort

Over three and a half centuries old, Bekal Fort looms large against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea. Soaring observation towers, once cannon emplacements, splendours of the sea that spread to the north, south and west and the rich naturescapes to the east, a water reservoir with a long flight of steps and a magazine for storing ammunition add to the mystery of the place.

3)Bird Watching

Malabar is known the world over to be an area that is very rich in birdlife. The epicentre of this is around the weaving town of Kannur in central Malabar, specifically in three zones: Madayipara, located on the Arabian sea and Ezhome  and Chemballikundu, which form a wetland valley in the wetlands valley in the foothills of the Ezhimala mountains.

All that you need to bring with you are:

Camera, sun-hat, sunglasses and protection cream.

We provide:

• Picinic breakfast for morning outfit, including juice, fresh fruits, tea/coffee, eggs, muesli, toast and preserves. We will also provide water for the journey and snacks for evening outings.
• Set departures from the Hermitage each day (n.b. prior booking is required)
• Morning Outing: 6 am to 11 am
• Evening Outing: 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm
• Your birding experience is just 30 kms away, travel time is around 45 minutes

4 )Ayurveda Spa

During your stay with us, we aim to nourish your body, mind and soul through authentic and delicious food, the charm of our staff and the Ayurvedic practices for which Kerala is renowned - massage, meditation and yoga.

Staying with us you have a rare chance to step out of life’s demanding routine, get back in touch with yourself and revitalize your life in a truly holistic way.

Ayurveda

At Neeleshwar we practise genuine Ayurvedic treatments in the traditional way, in collaboration with the Sahayadri Foundation, one of the few 100% organic herbal medicine manufacturers in India. We take great care to ensure that all the preparations we use are completely natural and organically produced, and are sourced in a way that does not impact negatively on the environment. To do this we employ disadvantaged tribal groups in the Sahayadri mountains in Kerala, guaranteeing them stable employment, fair wages and social improvements. We operate from a menu of twenty Ayurvedic treatments, both general and localised.

Priya Spa

The Priya Ayurvedic Spa has five spacious treatment rooms ranged around a central courtyard garden. The building has been designed along traditional lines with beautifully proportioned ceilings and elegantly carved pillars. The whole place is airy and well ventilated, with a wonderful calming atmosphere in which treatments are practised in an unhurried and quiet way. We ensure that all the preparations we use are 100% natural, organically produced and sourced in a way that does not impact negatively on the environment.

5) Yoga and Meditation

Yoga is an indispensable aid to good health and our yoga programme at the Hermitage is under the tutelage of Shri Anil Kumar.

Anil studied at the Yoga and Vedanta Forest Academy in Rishikesh and also at the SVYASA Yoga University in Bangalore, the only one of its kind. He has been teaching classical hatha yoga for 13 years.

Anil offers a complimentary class each morning from 8 – 8.45 am. This is really for beginners, so those of you are practiced in yoga or would like more advanced tuition one-to-one (or in very small groups of two or three maximum) are advised to book a private class with him. These are available at your convenience throughout the day.

All classes take place in our beautiful Patanjali Yoga Hall near the beach.

Yoga for the mind

Anil also teaches two types of yoga meditation.

Ashtanga Meditation.

This is a course of minimum 2 and maximum five days, each daily session taking 1 hour.

Each course comprises:

• Introductory talk

• Breathing exercises (pranayama)

• Mental concentration (dhyana)

• Deep concentration (samadhi)

Pranic Energy Meditation

This is normally a one hour long session involving:

• Introduction to ‘the vital force’ (prana)

• Focussing on the chakras to energise the body from base to crown.