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Our Opinion
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This is one of the nicest places I have had the pleasure of staying at in Kerala, in all respects. If you are after heritage style accommodation, far removed from major international hotel brands, then this place has to be it. It has 10 beautifully appointed bedrooms, air conditioned and en suite, beautiful pool, good restaurant and friendly attentive staff. This former private house was been converted into a heritage guest house in 2003. Owner/manager (Bibi Baskin from Ireland) will personally welcome you and provide you with any assistance you may require. Superb and highly recommended !!
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Summary
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Raheem Residency’s heritage is rich and genuine. Showing definite British colonial influences in its design, its history is documented back to the end of the 19th century when Mr Raheem’s ancestors, textile merchants, moved their family from Gujarat in northwestern India to the thriving port town of Alleppey. We assume that it was at this time that the Raheem family bought the existing colonial house and called it Raheem Bungalow. Today we are glad to report that the current Mr Raheem and his wife, Mrs Mymunnah, are now happily living in Cochin. Mr Raheem remains a regular visitor, together with his extended Muslim family and he is very celebratory about the restoration which has resulted with the passion of a modern-day custodian of one of the old treasures of Kerala. In changing its use from a private home to a boutique hotel, the owners took the liberty of changing its name from Raheem Bungalow to Raheem Residency.
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THE LOCATION
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Raheem Residency is located across a road from an undeveloped beach. The location is not at all like Kovalam Beach where there are lots of restaurants etc. This is the first high-ranking hotel at this beach which is rarely used by anyone except for Indian families on a Sunday afternoon and Raheem Residency guests.
As well as the beach Alleppey has a delightful network of canals meandering through the town and beckoning the beautiful backwaters into the centre. And the boat jetty, which takes you on your backwater cruise, is only 10 minutes from us.
The Tourism Dept has started regular beach cleaning, dredging of the canals and landscaping of the canal banks, and definite plans are in place for restoration of the old pier, built by the British, opposite our hotel.
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ALLEPEY
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Alleppey is a quaint town with all the hustle and bustle of India but on a manageable scale. Its traders did business with Greece and Rome BC. The Portuguese landed in the 16th century but were sidelined by the Dutch who built warehouses for storing pepper and other spices. The then Maharaja of Travencore gave them a run for their money and power returned to the local rulers who set about cultivating coconuts, building roads etc. The British made their contribution too and it was in 1859 that the first modern coir matting factory was built, an industry which provides Alleppey’s main income today.
The town clearly used to be a stunning Venice of India, but it is now sadly somewhat overgrown and crumbling which is sad because it could be exceptional. There is a wonderful mix of religions which is reflected by a two block walk where you see a church, a Hindu temple, a Jain temple and a mosque. There is a nice beach right in front of the hotel, and many locals are very eager to practice their English with you. The Arabian sea is warm, and the waves are great fun to play in.
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| 1 |
Front View Of Raheem Residency |
| 2 |
View From Entrance Gate |
| 3 |
Arrivals Area |
| 4 |
View To Beach From Restaurant |
| 5 |
Swimming Pool Daytime |
| 6 |
Lounge Area In Raheem Bungalow |
| 7 |
Raheem Residency At Night |
| 8 |
Patio Off Raheem Bungalow |
| 9 |
Bookcase In Main Lounge Area |
| 10 |
Swimming Pool Daytime |
| 11 |
Disused Well Near Reception |
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