Evergreen Estate Bungalow

As a family of three, we were welcomed into George and Anju's home as if we were their own family. We arrived on Christmas Day and stayed for three nights and had an absolutely wonderful time. ||The accommodation was out of this world, as was the hospitality we were afforded. George's home is set in the hills amongst the rubber trees which his family have owned for generations and his knowledge of his plantation's history is amazing. He took us to some fantastic local places such as other beautiful bungalows on the estate and the original gentleman's club used by the first plantation pioneers of the local area. It was absolutely fascinating.||Anju's cooking was delicious and we tasted lots of new flavours and dishes.||We will never forget our stay and would highly recommend spending some time at this property as it is was way beyond our expectations before arriving. Thank you George and family (and Prasad!).

6 years ago

We arrived at Evergreen Estate Bungalow and were immediately given the warmest of welcomes. The room was delightful ,spacious and very comfortable. George showed us around the area and took us to a rubber processing plant. He is a most knowledgeable and interesting host who has written books about the pioneering planters who came to South India. The food was delicious and Anju was very happy to tell us about the different dishes. George is very helpful if you need any help with planning or booking your trip. We had a lovely 3 day stay here

9 years ago

The estate was plush in luxury and there was a live performance of Indian folk dance every day in the evening. The view from the estate overlooking the hills was breathtaking. Early in the morning the very next day I sat there reading my favorite J.R.R Tolkien sipping hot tea and enjoying the fantabulous view it offered. Seeing my gaze at the hills our lovely host offered to rent me his binoculars and said that sometimes one could spot elephants. The view still stays fresh in my memoir and I would want to head back to that place I call heaven.

6 years ago

Our stay was wonderful from start to finish. George, Anju and Prasaad have a wonderful eye for detail and casual luxury. The food was the best of our trip and George did everything in his power, including securing our next booking for us, to ensure that we wanted for nothing at his beautiful home. The stay was completely enjoyable and I highly recommend staying at the Evergreen Estate Bungalow.

9 years ago

George and Anju have a wonderful place here where you can have a peaceful stay in a small Indian Village and experience the real India. The scenery is stunning, the hospitality exceptional and George will take you out and about to the tea and rubber estates to see all that the British and Irish planters started in the early 1900's. Highly recommended!

8 years ago

The Evergreen Estate was our first upscale homestay experience, and at a discounted rate (since we missed one meal and didn’t need any complimentary beers) of around INR 5000 per couple per room, I felt we had done pretty well for ourselves. ||||Bordering on deal-induced smarminess, I headed onwards to a fabulous home-cooked meal. While the meal proved too spicy for my parents, my wife and I loved it. A spicy mutton curry, traditional Kerala parotas, a tapioca mash that was meant to be eaten as a substitute for rice, fish cutlets, kadhi, beans-stir-fried, grated salad veggies and papads - just when I thought I would burst, George’s gorgeous wife Anju brought out the most amazing dessert. A medley of crushed cake, biscuit drizzles, custard topping and fresh pomegranate. I shamelessly asked for 3 servings and was on my way to serve myself a fourth when I caught my wife glaring at me. I made some remarks as t how fresh the pineapples were and George reminded us that they were grown just a few hundred feet from where we sat, at a splendid circular-horseshoe, dark wood dining table. This seemed to distract my wife enough, but not enough to score that final helping. Our host, who also happens to be an author (The Path to the Hills) was an expert on homestays. He talked about his ancestors, his family and their life and even tried to help us secure some good bookings for the rest of our trip. And then, it was lights out. ||||Morning painted the Evergreen Estate in bright colours. Mostly green. But there were some other colours on display as well. The light pink of freshly dropped flowers, a yellow pineapple being sliced for breakfast, a chocolate brown calf, the Heliconia yellows and the slate velvet grey of the 2 hounds running around the dew soaked lawn. My son ‘borrowed’ George’s son’s red cycle and squeaked around. The wife was busy shooting a portfolio of her latest jewellery designs against the backdrop of a verdant forest. I longed for breakfast. ||||Breakfast was star-shaped appams, an egg stew, toast, home-made jams and pineapple juice. I kept an eye out for the pineapple dessert from last night, but it was not to be. Ah well. Mom got tips on the making of a star-shaped appam post which I quickly rounded up 3 of the 4 Abrahams, got some pictures with them and their lovely house and headed out to our next destination. ||||HIghly recommended if you want to just be at peace with beautiful, natural surroundings. Ask for the pineapple dessert in advance.

10 years ago

We stayed here for one night, and it was great! George was immensely knowledgeable, and Anju was an incredible cook. Highly recommended. I was particularly interested in learning about the rubber industry, and George took us to a rubber factory and a rubber club. Really neat.

7 years ago

Evergreen Estate is a wonderful Homestay/B&B located in the beautiful foothills of Kerala. The location is gorgeous, it is in the countryside, away from the noise and bustle of an urban area, and surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills. We greatly enjoyed our stay. ||||Location: It is a 3 hour (mostly scenic) drive from the Kochi airport and about the same from Kottayam (a beautiful town near the backwaters). It is in the foothills and will serve as a wonderful mid-way location between the mountains, the forests, or the tea estates and the coastal towns located near the backwaters (Kottayam) and the ocean (Cochin/Kochi). ||||Accommodation: The rooms are furnished in a simple, yet elegant manner. This is not five-star luxury. What it provides is a) cleanliness b) safety and security c) an opportunity to interact with a kind and gracious family and have an authentic Kerala experience. d) food that is both delicious and hygienic. Particularly coming from the West, it is important that unclean food doesn't ruin your holiday, and the food at Evergreen was perfect, even for our three year old daughter. ||||Family friendly: They have two adjoining rooms (both with en-suite full bathrooms) with a door that separates them. I traveled with my wife, (toddler) daughter and mother. This was ideal for us. I can imagine people travelling with slightly older kids or a group of young adults also benefiting from this arrangement. ||||Rest and Rejuvenation: If you are in the middle of a busy holiday and need a quiet beautiful space that is authentically Indian, then Evergreen may be the ideal location in Kerala. They also offer Yoga and Meditation classes (in addition to instructions on cooking Indian food). It will also be suited to someone that wants to take a break from a busy schedule and needs space to relax and reflect, or couples/families that need some quiet time together. ||||The three days at Evergreen Estate was a wonderful part of our vacation. If you are visiting Kerala, I strongly recommend spending time at Evergreen.

7 years ago