Indeco Hotels Swamimalai

It not a hotel... Its Steve Borgia's amazing collection! I felt that I was travelling in a time machine, transported back and forth from the times when one roamed amidst trees and plants, as I walked from my abode (thats what it should be called, not a room) to the dining hall. The pathways were village roads with wooden statues, bullock carts, old cars and what not! There is no hurry, and amidst the smiling faces of the staff in their traditional attire, I could almost see men and women from the old centuries laughing and talking, as they walked past. A freshly cooked sumptuous meal was served in the dining hall which again had more of Steve's collections of cookware, dining ware and even the cute old tiffin boxes, along with a couple of the old printing presses. Time passed easily before the hot, tasty food arrived, and was served with a lot of care and respect given to a guest at home. After a meal like this, all you can do is lie down on an ornate swing or a red-floored 'thinnai' (a raised platform just outside the main door of a tradiitonal home to sit) surrounded by the sounds of parakeets, bulbuls, peacocks and gaze dreamily listening to the sound of the gurgling water from the small stream that goes through the property. Traditional furniture, furnishings and ambience from a bygone era meet comfort and luxury of the modern world in the rooms, especially the sprawling palace rooms, after staying in which I really thought I had suddenly become the queen of the land. Modern fittings, airconditioning in rooms and clean linen took care of all the necessities needed. Being an old, restored property, there are issues but the ever smiling staff handle it with good understanding and efficency. Steve Borgia and the entire staff at Indeco Swamimalai deserve a standing ovation!

We stayed in the Deluxe Room. It had 2 single beds put close to each other. We were 2 adults + 2 children. We requested for additional bed, for which we had to pay an extra amount of Rs.750/night. We managed to sleep somehow. However if there had been a double bed instead of 2 single beds, 3 persons could have slept comfortably on the cot. With 2 single beds, it was a little difficult. The hotel has to definitely improve on the quality and variety of the food served in the restaurant. Morning breakfast was good, but lunch and dinner was below average. Also, the flies falling on the plates during the dinner was a bit unpleasant. The room including the toilet was neat and clean. Interiors reminded us of an old agraharam style house with the olden day lamps, switches, fans, roof, doors, door bells, thinnai,etc., We got to see a lot of insects in their natural environment, especially at night. We went on a bullock ride and we had a pump set water bath in the stream that was running inside the hotel area, at an extra cost. The museum had a good collection of artifacts. There were gooses, ducks, rabbits, peacocks and deers for which we can feed. There was a Bharathanatyam performance at night. There are many more activities to witness too. We enjoyed our stay at the hotel. Worth a visit for sure!!

An excellent experience and the place is home away from home in short, while at the same time it is a cultural showpiece with its art facts and historic depictions. The whole stay is very comfortable and specially the food and service by Mr Sundar and all the dining staff will make it an experience to treasure. Mr Thiagarajan and all the staff make your overall stay very comfortable. One suggestion is to add aircon to dining hall without disturbing the ambiance, so that in peak summer it adds value.

We have been to Indeco SWAMIMALAI more than 15 times. It has always been a heavenly experience for us. Mr. Steve Borgia has collected innumerable antiques and curated a lot of things. It is a delight to see those collections and we are always awestruck. The staff are very friendly and the flora and fauna is mesmerizing. Guests are always taken care of in a very special way. Indeco is truly heaven on earth.