Le Colonial, by the Chinese fishing nets of Fort Cochin, is probably Asia's oldest colonial house, dating back to 1506. Located in the very heart of Fort Cochin, right next to Saint Francis Church, this legendary house is said to have housed the Saint as also Vasco de Gama. After 150 years as the Portuguese Governor's residence, it was one of the very few houses not to have been destroyed when the Dutch took Fort Cochin. It then housed the Dutch Governors for a century and a half, until Jan van Spall sold it to the British in 1795. In turn, they passed it on to the J. Thomas, the renowned tea trader. These five captive centuries of history have been lovingly restored and the hotel is a true living museum. Treasures of art from the colonial past have revived that era, turning Le Colonial into a "Club" and meeting point for the discerning travellers. Le Colonial, in 2016, was proud to host the second series of BBC's Real Marigold Hotel and its cast!
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HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Hidden Gem
Languages Spoken
English
Location
1/315 Church Road Vasco da Gama Square, Kochi (Cochin) 682001 India
Le Colonial
146 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This is the most gorgeous find in ALL of Fort Kochin!! Steeped in history, the house is filled with gorgeous art and every little nook and cranny has a story. The attention to detail is amazing and done in such good taste. The staff is extremely friendly and the food is beyond delectable. I highly recommend Le Colonial to anyone looking for an authentic experience in Fort Kochin.
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Date of stay: February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from NeemranaHotels, Guest Relations Manager at Le Colonial
Responded 29 Feb 2016
Dear Guest, Thank you for your kind and patronizing feedback about Neemrana’s Le Colonial in Fort Kochi, Kerala! We are delighted that you enjoyed the décor, the ambience, interiors and artifacts at the 16th century colonial mansion and got a chance to experience the Neemrana brand of hospitality. Your compliments about the same as well as the cuisine have been conveyed to the members of the service staff and will act as a source of encouragement and motivation. As we look forward to welcoming you back for many more visits at any of Neemrana’s 27 properties, we hope that you continue to share your experiences with us! Warm regards, Team Neemrana friendofneemrana@neemranahotels.com
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We just spent two weeks in India, traveling across Tamil Nadu and Kerala from heritage hotels to heritage homes and Le Colonial is definitely the best place we stayed in. We loved the style of the house and the quality of the service. All rooms are beautifully decorated, the staff is extremely nice, attentive and discreet. The small restaurant (Le Colonial only has 7 rooms) has a limited menu but the food (Indian or Continental) is just delicious.
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Date of stay: December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We loved our four-day stay at the boutique Le Colonial Hotel. This is a small property that has been furnished with a passion for historic detail and atmosphere. It really feels more like a beautiful home than a hotel. The staff went out of their way to keep us smiling, not to mention the tasty meals prepared by the resident chef.
If you love a private place away from the large crowds, this place is for you. Location is close enough to all the famous sites of Kochi but in a quiet corner next to St. Francis Church.
Highly recommended for the traveler that wants to be close to the local touch and feel, yet have a tranquil retreat for privacy when desired.
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Date of stay: May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from NeemranaHotels, Guest Relations Manager at Le Colonial
Responded 8 Jun 2015
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking time out to write to us and for your warm feedback! We are extremely pleased to learn of your visit to Neemrana’s Le Colonial, in Fort Kochi, Kerala and to know that you enjoyed your experience as well as the ambience and the services and facilities offered at the 16th century colonial mansion. It is deeply rewarding to know that you enjoyed your meals and appreciate the effort of the Chef and his team. Your encouraging compliments have been duly conveyed to the members of staff. We are grateful for your patronage and look forward to welcoming you back soon at any of Neemrana’s 27 properties, spread across 17 destinations in the country. Warm regards, Team Neemrana friendofneemrana@neemranahotels.com
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The non-hotel Hotel describes Le Colonial perfectly. This Colonial Mansion is wonderful, we stayed in the room Major Petrie, with its huge Four Poster bed, Polished wooded Floors and a fantastic bathroom, both the bathroom and bedroom have shuttered windows overlooking the Church next door...so romantic. The staff are very kind and nothing is to much for them. The chef is an artist, and will adapt his food to your taste or dietary needs. I felt so welcome and at home here, my partner is French and one member of staff made a lot of effort to communicate in his language, although we both speak English. In fact I have posted this young man a French Grammar book to encourage his efforts ! This is my first stay in a Neemrana Hotel, but it certainly will not be this last. Elegance, charm and a real desire to make their guests feel welcome and at home describes their philosophy. This was my first stop during a three week holiday travelling around Kerala, and although I stayed in 6 other hotels or resorts during my visit (all 4 or 5 star) Le Colonial was by far the best. Finally their internet site is really easy to use, and if you book direct you can choose your room.
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Date of stay: August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from NeemranaHotels, Guest Relations Manager at Le Colonial
Responded 24 Sept 2013
Dear Guest, Thank you for your kind words about the Le Colonial heritage hotel in Fort Kochi. We are delighted to learn that you had a comfortable stay in the Major Petrie room. Your gracious compliments about the cuisine and the service have been conveyed to the Chef and the service team. We have also conveyed your appreciation to our website team. We hope that as you continue to travel with Neemrana, you’ll find more to tell us about ! Warm Regards, Team Neemrana friendofneemrana@neemranahotels.com
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We were outbooked here from the Malabar House after they had overbooked us. We arrived at 5am to be greeted warmly by staff who had been up half the night for us! The charming Director and her staff couldn't do enought for us. Dinner was a selection of different local dishes including some lovely red snapper and was delicious. The rooms (7, I think) are beautifully furnished in appropriate style for the hstory of the house and there is a small pool and comfortable poolside and garden area. Location is excellent for the fishing nets and shops in Fort Cochin. This hotel doesn't market itself aggressively so you have to be in the know. Make sure you are! You won't regret it!
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Date of stay: February 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at Le Colonial from the 20th of December 2008 to the 2nd of January 2009. The hotel is an amazing 500 year old colonial house, and has been beautifully restored. The service was exquisite, and the rooms gorgeously decorated with local arts and crafts. The hotel was recommended by friends who had stayed there previously, and the hotel and service lived up to my expectations. The climate was amazing (between 30 and 36 degrees celsius during the day during the whole of our stay). Watch out for mosquitos! I highly recommend this for any culture seeking person. The hotel is not for people searching for standard hotel chain as it does not have amenities like wi-fi or business center. It has about 10 rooms.
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Date of stay: December 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This 8 room boutique hotel was built in 1506, but is completely modernized. The location in historic Fort Kochin can't be beat. One block from the Arabian Sea and walking distance from all the historic sites. The rooms are large and three have balconies (get one). The food is excellent and the staff is fantastic. Visit Kerala and stay here for a magical experience.
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Date of stay: February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I found out about Le Colonial several months ago when I was planning a trip to India for myself and my girlfriend - the first India visit for both of us. I knew right away that I wanted for us to spend our last couple of nights in India at Le Colonial, so I had high expectations even before getting there. I had booked the Viceroy room, and was very much looking forward both to staying in this very special room and to the general experience of Le Colonial itself. From the moment we pulled up in front of the gate and Smita, the manager, came out with her staff to wish us welcome, until the early morning when we unfortunately had to leave this very special place we had the most wonderful experience. Smita, who is the ultimate when it comes to combining the professional aspects of her duties with her very own very friendly and outgoing personality, was always there when we needed to ask a simple question, or sometimes just to engage in an interesting conversation. Our stay at Le Colonial would have been wonderful, no matter what, but Smita certainly added a whole different dimension to our enjoyment. It also so happened that we were the only guests during our brief two night stay, and having the dining room all to ourselves was another unique experience. And to say that the food was outstanding would of course be an understatement. We have stayed in many great hotels all over the world over the years but Le Colonial is in a whole different category - this is truly an experience and a memory for life. We will always remember our brief time there with fondness, and hope to return! Thank you so very much - Smita and staff!
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Date of stay: October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from NeemranaHotels, Guest Relations Manager at Le Colonial
Responded 6 Nov 2017
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing such heartwarming feedback about the Le Colonial heritage hotel in Kochi. We are delighted to read about your experience at the 16th century hotel. We are glad to receive your kind appreciation about the property and the Viceroy room. It is rewarding to know that you recognize and appreciate our effort towards style with simplicity. We are grateful for your appreciation about the warm hospitality and have conveyed your kind words to Smita Daruwala as our team goes the extra mile to make each guests stay memorable and comfortable. Your appreciation about the food has been conveyed to the Chef and he is delighted to know that you enjoyed the cuisine prepared from fresh produce that is offered. It is our sincere endeavour to make each guest’s stay a memorable one. We thank you for your visit and look forward to welcoming you back soon ! Warm Regards, Team Neemrana feedback@neemranahotels.com
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A very elegant hotel with excellent staff and service. The hotel is also truly historical and you tend to get lost in time. Do spend some time looking at the artwork and the architecture of the building. The rooms are well appointed, clean and extremely comfortable. Oh and the Chef is superb :)
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Date of stay: February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from NeemranaHotels, Guest Relations Manager at Le Colonial
Responded 29 Feb 2016
Dear Guest, We are grateful for your kind and patronizing feedback about Neemrana’s Le Colonial heritage hotel in Fort Kochi, Kerala! It is rewarding to know of that you enjoyed the architecture, décor and ambience at the colonial mansion and had a comfortable and memorable stay. Your appreciation of the restoration effort reinforces our philosophy to infuse life and restore charm to a ruin and offer an experience of the life and times gone by. We are grateful for your encouraging compliments about the cuisine and the same have been duly conveyed to the Chef and his team. As we look forward to welcoming you back soon again, we hope that you will continue to share your experiences with us! Warm regards, Team Neemrana friendofneemrana@neemranahotels.com
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A seriously gorgeous hotel. Well worth the stay. Excellent staff and wonderful food. A truly historical house beautifully restored to the highest standards. A living room with lovely touches that makes a visitor feel at home. A pool that feels a million miles from the hustle of the streets outside. What a wonderful way to take a break from the hassles of your usual week.
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Date of stay: February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, we can definitely accomodate the 3 of you in Jan vam Spall which has 2 queen size beds. Do not hesitate to get in touch with me or anyone on our team should you need help booking.
Isabelle
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your enquiry about the Le Colonial heritage hotel.
We would like to inform you that there is availability at the moment.
We request you to connect with our reservations team at the earliest as these are on subject to availability.
Warm Regards,
Team Neemrana
Hi Mike,
Bestt time would be September to February if you want to avoid too much rain and heat with the safest window being between mid-October to mid-February. In past years however, the weather seems to be less predictable, so no guarantees. You could have dry weather during monsoon...
Kind regards,
Isabelle
There are more places to choose from in the Kochi (Cochin) area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 1,806 - RM 2,378 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndiaKeralaErnakulam DistrictKochi (Cochin)
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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