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Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. For us, the Casino Hotel (See
map)
has been all three.
It's
where the group started out. And in the half-century since, its also been the
place where we cut our teeth and evolved our ideas.
It's an end too, because
here is where we think, live and breathe, where we perfect many of the practices
you'll see at work in our other destinations.
Willingdon
Island was dredged out of the sea bed by the British in Lord Willingdon's time
and it's the reason why Cochin has such a fine 'natural' harbour. The British,
of course, were only the latest in a long line of civilizations that have been
drawn to the magnet of Cochin's charms. Spice was the wealth of the age of sail,
and the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese and the Jews were all drawn here, the
gateway to Kerala's mountains and forests, where gold grew out of the earth. Even
today, Cochin remains a fine starting point for a Kerala sojourn. The
shores of Willingdon Island hum with activity and all the hurly-burly of a large
port city.
But the centre, where we're located, is a peaceful spot of vast
grassy spaces and sleepy side-roads. Here, you have the best of both worlds, because
you're still a mere 15 minutes away from the city centre.
If
anything, Casino Hotel is rather nondescript from the frontage. But as in many
courtyard style dwellings in India (or Europe for that matter), its charms become
evident once you enter.
The classic Kerala combination of tiled roof, wooden
beams and rough plaster creates a haven of warmth and light around the grassy
central space, which is divided up neatly between the Fort Cochin seafood restaurant
and the pool. Virtual
Visit: an interactive view of the central courtyard
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| Sunset
over Willingdon Island.
The obligatory chinese fishing net picture (below)
and
(bottom), the central courtyard, Casino Hotel. |
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| Antiques
and art are the lietmotif throughout. (Right) a typical suite. |
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The
Casino serves well as an introduction to the charms of Kerala, but perhaps its
business that brings you here? We believe that at the Casino, you'll find all
that you need to get things done. The business districts of Ernakulam are a short
taxi ride away, and you can start your business day armed with every facility.You
can connect to the net right from your room and fax, copier and computer facilities
are available too. The
fitness club will kickstart your morning, with the latest in stairmasters, walkers
and the like. In fact, if you're staying a while, you can even get yourself a
health, diet and fitness routine customized by our resident instructors. The
Cascade pool can be the perfect restorative. Swimsuits are available in the gift
shop - which is worth a visit, even if you aren't so keen on a dip. You'll find
exquisite examples of traditional Keralan crafts, exotic fabrics, garments, books,
handbags and all sorts of fascinating bric-a-brac. Another
great way to relax is an ayurvedic massage. Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system
of medicine, and the Casino has its own resident experts and fully-equipped facilities
If
the cocktail hour beckons you, the Vasco da Gama lounge is the hotel's ever-popular
watering hole. You can linger over exotic cocktails (Cochin Thunder, Pink Ladies
and some superb concoctions based on the local tipples) or in a new twist, sample
some health drinks based on ayurvedic ideas. If
you're in a mood to confer, the Durbar Hall is the place. It accommodates upto
350 people in gracious style. For smaller gatherings you can opt for the Harbour
Lounge Banqueting Suite, which seats 25. |  |
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The
restaurants at the Casino hotel have become institutions for Cochin's food lovers.
If you feel a need to temper the exotic with the familiar, The 'Tharavadu'
(below) is the place to begin. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the
range of Indian and Continental cuisine is vast.
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The speciality seafood restaurant, Fort
Cochin (right), is our pride and joy, perpetually
popular, though it is open only in the evenings.
Good Housekeeping called
Fort Cochin "one of the most renowned seafood restaurants in India".
Eating here is like diving off a springboard into the flavours and textures of
food throughout Kerala. Rather than a daily menu, a trolley contains the catch
of the day, straight off Cochin's fishing nets. You can expect king prawns, lobster,
Indian salmon, snapper, pomfret, squid, mullet, seer fish and more. Once you've
selected your fish, you get to decide how it's cooked - whether stir-fried in
the spices of the East, steamed, baked, or poached, and served with Kerala's famous
string hoppers, rice or naan.
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The
Poolside Garden Cafe serves up some interesting health drinks, great while you're
lolling about post-swim. Lots of snacks and grills are available too. |
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The
Casino Hotel has, as we've said, a fully equipped ayurvedic centre, where you
can get a variety of stress busting, rejuvenation and beauty treatments. In fact,
even a couple of massages will have a telling effect. You will, of course, find
Ayurveda spaces in practically every CGH destination, so if you're starting your
holiday at Casino, it can also be a great overture to your wellness experience. |
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