Quiet by the River

Quiet by the River is a charming, family-friendly, riverside eco-lodge that enjoys a tranquil setting within the beautiful Malayattor reserve forest and is located on a 47-acre island on the Periyar River. Built using local wood and stone, this superior rustic-style property is designed to embrace the stunning natural setting and is one of Kerala’s best-kept secrets.

Accommodation is in four independent cottages that are simple yet tastefully furnished using period-style furniture and feature a modern ensuite bathroom. While all cottages are air-conditioned and have spacious verandas offering spectacular views of the verdant mahogany, teak forests, and the Periyar River, none have a TV or telephone. Also, some cottages resemble traditional Keralan-style homes and feature wooden ceilings and red-oxide tiled floors.

At Quiet by the River, the menu changes daily, and while the focus is on authentic Keralan cuisine prepared using locally sourced ingredients, including vegetables and herbs from the lodge’s organic garden and fresh river fish, guests are asked for their preferences, and the menu is adapted accordingly. Whilst meals are served in the main dining room, picnic lunches by the riverside or a romantic private candlelit dinner can be arranged on request.

Activities on offer include nature walks through the surrounding forests, which is home to over 250 species of birds, including raptor, brahminy and lesser fish eagle; canoe rides in search of wild elephants; fishing, star gazing; late evening walk around the island to discover the nocturnal inhabitants of the forest or a visit to a rubber plantation nearby with a picnic lunch by the river before cooling off with a dip in one of the natural rock pools or at the resort’s infinity-edge pool.

Guests staying at Quiet by the River should note that access to this secluded retreat is via a 30-minute drive up a rugged path through the forest before you board a country canoe to traverse the last part of the journey. Also, guests should be aware of entry restrictions as the property is within the reserve forest, and the forest reserve gate is only open to guests between 6 am and 5 pm.