Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Old Courtyard ,Fort Kochi

The Courtyard House is situated in one of the beautiful alleys of Fort Kochi. Its Just a walkable distance from the sea side. This "piece of History"is beautiful and magnanimous.

What we craved on that rainy day was some hot tea and french fries.So that was the perfect setting on a rainy day.."the old courtyard  and rain."Surrounded by the mango tree,the courtyard,the serene white balmy rooms,the wooden flooring,the old switches ,the blue tile skirting all added to its grandeur.A pleasure to be there in the rains always.

A little history too.....

The Old Courtyard Hotel was known as Lily Koder’s house. The eminent Koder family of Fort Cochin, who were Jews.
The house was built for Lily Koder’s brother, but unfortunately he did not live long to occupy the house. And since Lily Koder was unmarried, she lived in that house with some nephews. When the nephews migrated to Israel, she lived there alone. Her brother lived in the Koder House which was connected to her house by the shop next door and by a bridge over the road. She used to spend time and eat at her brother’s house. Lily Koder was well known among her colleagues and in the society and the young girls used to go to her to learn bridge and French. She died in the early 90’s and the house was left abandoned until it was bought over in 1999.
Jacob and Rose Kuruvinakunnel found Lily Koder’s house the perfect setting to start their own hotel. The old mango tree in the center of the courtyard was the clincher. Being a graduate of Ecole Les Roches, Cran Montana, Switzerland, it was their dream to find a place they could transform to a small and intimate hotel.
With Jacob’s love for antique furniture, he searched all over to find the kind of furniture he envisioned to fill the place. Thus, he created rooms in the colonial style of four poster beds, intricate cupboards, tables, lion face, 5 headed elephant and other unusual pieces. His love of art enabled him to collect original art work and paintings which are show cased in the Old Courtyard Restaurant and rooms.(text credit here)


the rainy alleys of fortkochi

the patina in its beauty
the walls are steeped in history
the seating overlooking the courtyard
the grandeur,the courtyard



the restaurant 




tiled skirting



the floor up 


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these dreamy bedrooms
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loved the light here
and finally the tea
  All pictures courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind
please do not copy nor save images..

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Festival Season at home..Diwali time



The fragrance filled the air

The musky aroma of the dull oranges,at thy feet

The bubble of warmth and the fragrance of the divine worship at Diwali

Mornings moments fresh and fragrant at Diwali time

Fresh garlands of seasonal flowers , vivid pink lotus buds,shimmering fabric that evoke the prayers

As Dusk slowly enveloped the house,the diwali evening was beautiful

Celebrate...and enjoy...as the house warms up for diwali!

A  Kaleidoscopic view of the festival season at our home

As I wait for another Diwali Morning:)-
Loved these lines on" A Diwali Morning"

On Diwali morning

her childhood returns: de

on the burnt grass, birds in flight 
singing, pampering by her aunts, 
the rustling of new dresses, 
delectable meals and sweets 


Joy sugared the air, as bright 
as firecrackers exploding.

On a November night 
the festival would arrive: the perfect 
opening notes of a symphony 
that would decide the fate of the planet. 
Each moment was alive: 
it was like being washed in the geyser 
of memory.
(Charles Fishman)








Home stitched beauties as cushions,Small golden beads that got stitched on to the sides:)-
















I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love(Henry ward)





Worship is Divine..Everyday life has become my prayer(Sarah Ban)d caption




























The bangles as votive holder





 As i wait for another Diwali Morning:)-




All images and ideas Copyrighted to Lakshmi Arvind
Please ask permission before you use these images from the blog,unauthorised copying from the site and using it otherwise on any other site is prevented.