There are very few places that bring back good memories of our past long forgotten. Not to sound philosophical but these genuine emotions one goes through, are trails from pleasant memories, which would have taken place in the backdrop of nature. The earthy aroma from the warm sand when rain droplets grace it before the torrential downpour. The warm rays of sunshine gleaming through the green canopy of branches. As a child experiencing such immaterial yet delightful episodes brought me bouts of joy. Cranganor Riverside Chateau had that searingly magical effect on me.

Its raw albeit bold simplicity was fascinating. The dark streak running through the middle of each jute lamp revealed its unabashed struggle with the river when it broke the bank in 2018 (the aftermath of persistent rainfall). My eyes wandered absorbing every little detail that had gone into crafting this quaint haven where I’d be spending the rest of my weekend.

Incorporating open green spaces into the building-design, blend the lush verdant landscapes around it seamlessly. Devoid of any unnecessary modern sophistication, but replete with inimitable vintage charm, Cranganor emanated elegance effortlessly. And so, there was something absolutely candid as well as awe-inspiring about Cranganor that struck me as soon as I stepped on to the courtyard.

I meandered bare-foot through the manicured buffalo grass pausing a moment or two to squish the grass between my toes as I used to when I was a child. While exploring the property, a treasure-trove of memories awaited me there in many avatars such as the wooden swing hung from the tree, the white hammock that promised me a starry night, tall formidable trees, and the ebbing river Periyar, flowing by.

The cosy ambience coupled with the gurgling rhythms of the placid river, as it lapped up against the banks, lent room for self-contemplation; a languid calling of nostalgia soon took over me. Attaining a state of enhanced nirvana, my innermost thoughts and senses became enrapt in the natural sounds around me as darkness fell. Those were the two extraordinary days that I would love to relive at the ever so blissful Cranganor Riverside Chateau.