Eighth Bastion 3*** , Cochin, India
Environment So many cultures melt into Fort Cochin that it feels like everybody’s city. And indeed, for three centuries it was. While Fort Cochin’s British and Portuguese past is evident everywhere you go, the area’s Dutch DNA is a subtle, less visible cultural thread. This thread is what we plucked from the out of the history books. And sought to weave into a contemporary travel experience. On a peaceful street corner in the centre of Dutch Cochin , the Eighth Bastion is a 3stars contemporary hotel, even post-modern. The architecture combines clean cubic lines with chic, retro touches such as the railings and roof tiles. Note furniture scattered about, exact replicas of the chairs once found on Dutch Schooners. Few urban pockets would offer such an engaging mix of history, culture, shopping, ambling and just sheer fun, as the area around the hotel. Beaches, museums, cafes, the famed fishing nets, the shopping on Princess Street…its all just a walk (or a complimentary cycle ride) away. The streets in the immediate vicinity are splendid to stroll about in, specially early in the day. You can see some of the last remnants of Dutch Colonial style houses, with their steeply angled roofs and tall windows.
How you will reside Elegance with minimal fuss are the watchwords in the rooms as well. The main appointments? Just lots of comfort, sunlight and air. Of course, our Dutch soul is evident wherever you might look, as in the nautical paintings, enamelwork and Delft China. Most of our rooms open on to airy patios or balconies. Just the spot to enjoy a morning tea, an afternoon nap or just to get a double-barelled lungful of the fine tropical sea breezes of the Malabar .
How you will eat The cuisine at Eighth Bastion is a contemporary take on some old favourites, hand-picked from the ring of Indian Ocean spots that were in the greater sphere of Dutch influence from the early 1600s. On the East Indies’ eclectic menu, Cheese Tarts jostle for space with robust Indonesian Pork. And the Travancore Duck Roast offsets a Balinese fish recipe that , we discovered, works superbly with our kerala catch. The tasting menus are tickets to delicious tastebud adventures. Eclectic though the variety may be, it keeps strict adherence to local ingredients. Cooked with handpicked Kerala spices. It’s a commitment to freshness. You’ll find it a delicious one. Every once in a while, the chef goes down to the Quality Bakery in the neighbourhood, and get hold of a few loaves of Bruther. This rich, aromatic bread has been baked in the area since Dutch times, and so far, only the folks at Quality still continue to make it. Saturday would be a good day to ask for it at the East Indies Restaurant. It’s rich , semi-sweet, egg-sugar-vanilla goodness combines wonderfully with a variety of dishes.
Amenities Princess Street is a mecca for cool cottons, rare antiques, leather, brass…you name it. In the Old Town, historic sites like this are undergoing an exciting renewal, becoming exhibition spaces for the Arts. In the heart of Jew Town, an unusual window grille with the Star of David. Antique shops abound in the waterfront markets a few km from the hotel. Bargaining welcome, of course.
Wow Factor Two eco-friendly wheels are a nice, easy way to get around and about the town. Just pick your bicycle from the colourful selection available near the main gate, ask at the reception for a map, and you’re good to go, pedaling your way through a sunny morning’s outing through the bazaars and by-lanes.
