CGH Earth’s Beach-gate Bungalows, is a lovingly restored British plantation company residence, around the corner from Fort Kochi beach, sights of Chinese fishing nets and short walking distance from St. Francis Church.

The vintage bungalows of Fort Kochi, under the shade of huge rain trees, give you a vivid sense of this historical coastal town, and leave an indelible impression. You could spend a day wandering around the quiet streets looking at heritage abodes with colonial roots, donning the distinctive features of their times. Portuguese houses were painted a sepia yellow; white was used only for churches; tiled roofs were introduced too. Dutch bungalows had sloping roofs built in typical Dutch style, so that the snow could slide off, and English villas were painted a stunning white. Beach Gate Bungalows is an extension of this illustrious period of Fort Kochi’s exciting colonial history. Located on a drive lined with grand private homes, with sweeping driveways and shocking pink bougainvillea, it has two elegant, identical bungalows, separated by a low wall.

A Colonial Affair

The houses were designed in the fifties for Brooke Bond & Co, a famous tea plantation company. It was designed so that company executives could continue to experience the feel of life on the plantations while they were on mainland. The bungalows display top architectural quality with Art Deco elements, such as a pillared rounded veranda.

It is the ideal holiday home for long relaxing vacations with the family or close friends, offering complete privacy. Each villa has three spacious bedrooms, a living room, a study, a terrace, fully equipped modern kitchen, a dining room that opens onto your private pool, and a surrounding tropical garden with jackfruit, sapota and tamarind trees. There’s also free Wi-Fi, and the option of alfresco BBQ dining in the garden. The kitchen is kitted out with all the modcons, so food can be prepared by the guests with fresh produce from local markets. Alternatively, they can request the services of an on-call private chef, at extra cost. Isn’t the joy of unwinding and dining in the company of birds and butterflies in your garden, surrounded by fruit-laden trees, something else?

While the houses were architecturally sound, years of neglect was bound to cause significant damage. It might have viable to pull down the dilapidated structures and built anew, but CGH Earth were passionate about “restoring to retain”, not destroying this slice of history and heritage. Today, the bungalows may have a new sheen, reflecting a fusion of styles and modern contemporary accents, but have conserved its innate charms.

Cycles are available at the villas, for instant access to the port city’s historic monuments, art cafes and galleries, and beautiful beach. Fort Kochi is the only place in India, where the Portuguese, Dutch and English have held power, and they have left influences in this charming area. As you cycle past the other bungalows, it is not difficult to picture the lives lived here in the past; you could almost imagine a Gatsby-style party taking place here. And then, after you have seen the sights, you can retire to your own planter’s bungalow.