Brunton Boatyard
Wonderful waterfront setting,
Sensational sunsets
Couples,
Families
Brunton Boatyard was originally a Victorian shipbuilding yard. In 1999, a dedicated team recreated the period building with painstakingly care and love. Today, it’s a great hotel in Cochin Harbour, full of artefacts and special touches that reflect English, Dutch, and Portuguese influences.
Cochin Harbour is the beating heart of the town, where fishermen haul in their daily catches and longboats sail past. Around the harbour, the town is oozing with flair, brimming with characterful antique shops, and you can see the crumbling remains of the once-glorious fort and amble along the historic jetty. Cochin is the northernmost point of the world-renowned Kerala Backwaters, which extend down to Alleppey in the south. While at the hotel, you can make friends at the Armoury bar and cafe, enjoy an Ayurvedic treatment, take a sunset cruise, or savour the great cuisine at the History Restaurant. Be sure to make time for fabulous fresh seafood at the Terrace Grill.
If you want complete peace and quiet, the boat traffic might disturb you: a shipping lane runs right in front of the property and the local ferry runs to and from the pier throughout the day.
Brunton Boatyard is not exactly a super-slick five-star experience but it’s a good value option in an interesting colonial building on the waterfront in characterful Cochin.
The Rooms
The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with high ceilings and elegant colonial-style furnishings.
They all have views of the water, and lovely little touches like fresh flowers from the garden, which reflect the care and detail that has gone into creating such an ambience.
What You’ll Find:
Why You'll Love It:
Explore ETG's Sample Itineraries in India
A few of our favourite routes, hand-picked by the team and ripe for tweaking.
Think of them as conversation starters. Curiosity sparkers. Not fixed plans, just ideas for what your holiday could look like, shaped by years of local know-how and the kind of immersive experiences that live long in the memory.
Alleppey
Kerala Encompassed
Gain a great insight into the variety Kerala has to offer as you travel south to north over three weeks. You’ll have the opportunity to stay in different types and styles of accommodation, ranging from tea bungalows to a plantation mansion, houseboat, treehouse and tents, to name a few.
Spend your days among tea and spice plantations, relaxing in rural settings, spotting wildlife, cruising along the Alleppey backwaters, visiting local markets and getting to know the towns that make Kerala tick. Finish on a remote beach to round off your journey through ‘God’s Own Country’.
Highlights
Cruise the backwaters
Get a real feel for life on the backwaters as you cruise through the canals on a houseboat for two nights, watching local life pass by
Birdwatching
Wake up on the banks of the river Periyar where you’ll have the chance to spot over 120 species of birds
Safaris
Track elephants and tigers on safaris and boat rides through the Nagarhole National Park
Gallery
India
Birds of South India
Discover lesser-visited but beautiful areas of Southern India during this two week holiday. There is a particular focus on the region’s abundant birdlife, exceptional for casual and serious aficionados. Visit several sanctuaries and travel through the lush western ghats, known as a treasure house of endemic species, as well as the strictly protected wildlife of Bandipur National Park.
Highlights
Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary
End your journey with a visit to the Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary, home to some 170 exquisite bird species
Valparai
Explore Valparai’s remote landscapes through forest treks in an area full of wildlife, including some of the most endangered varieties of hornbills
Bandipur National Park
Spot elusive big game on sunrise and sunset safaris in Bandipur National Park
Gallery
Brunton Boatyard on the map
In Our Travellers’ Words
Wonderful introduction to India
India, exceeded all expectations
Immersive India
The Curious Traveller’s Expert Guide to India
Want to know more? With its vast size, rich diversity, and countless possibilities, planning a holiday to India can feel overwhelming – so we’ve created our Curious Traveller’s Guide to India to help make sense of it all.
It’s our experts’ pick of standout experiences and places to stay, with honest advice on the best regions and tips for both first-time visitors and those returning for more.
