Jalakara
Hotel · South Andaman ·
Rainforest hideaway with luxe rooms, infinity pool, yoga
Information
Village number 4, Havelock island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744211, India Get directions
Rainforest hideaway with luxe rooms, infinity pool, yoga
Village number 4, Havelock island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744211, India Get directions
"It joins Havelock's other main draw, the charming boutique hotel Jalakara, which opened in late 2015 with just three rooms, three suites, and a private villa on an old banana and betel nut plantation." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Boutique hotel Jalakara is surrounded by coconut, betel nut, and banana trees. It's imperative that you tack on a couple nights in the villa, or one of the six rooms or suites, at Jalakara, a two-and-a-half-year-old retreat surrounded by betel-nut and banana trees in the rainforest on Havelock Island. “Havelock is Maldives meets Costa Rica meets India of yesteryear,” says Mark Hill, an English chef and entrepreneur who, along with his fashion designer wife, Atalanta Weller, run the boutique hotel. Many were skeptical of their decision to steer clear of the beach and focus instead on an interior, but the couple had other plans. “The beach is the beach, but the forest encapsulates the extra wildness that comes from the Andamans.”"
"Havelock may not be the easiest place in the world to get to, but boy, it's worth the effort. A coral-ringed island with some of the most spectacular beaches on earth and an abundance of nature's other pleasures awaits: mangrove creeks teeming with birdlife and crystal-clear seas filled with a dazzling array of aquatic life. And now there’s another reason to go: this stunning retreat carved into the virgin rainforest with 6 stylish suites, a private villa and a 16m ozone infinity pool. It was an overgrown banana plantation until British chef and entrepreneur Mark Hill enlisted a crack team of architects, artisan builders and crafters to clear the land and blend traditional Indian materials and techniques with fluid lines, modern minimalism and imagination. The result is a sublime hideaway with a laid-back vibe and luxe finishes. Rooms are arranged over staggered levels, leading down to an expansive decked platform and the glittering infinity pool. There’s an open-air massage suite, yoga classes, even a badminton lawn. Book island hopping excursions, private beachside picnics and jungle foraging walks then return here for a sundowner and some of the best views on the island. Highs The back-to-nature vibe with the spoiling benefits of a top hotel Cool and clean suites with dreamy bathrooms and bags of indoor and outside space Delicious food, with a seafood focus and tropical breakfasts The fun, sociable open-air bar and lounge; there’s a great cocktail menu and even a film projector for movies under the stars A perfect place to relax and rejuvenate - surrounded by virgin rainforest and no phones or TVs to distract you Lows We were the very first guests so we didn’t see some of the finishing touches, but we’re assured it’s firing on all cylinders now No WiFi in the rooms, but that's half the point (if you need to connect, there's WiFi in the bar/lounge) It's a remote island so getting here is an adventure, and things can be unreliable when you arrive - expect occasional power cuts (though there are now back up generators) or a shortage of produce from the mainland" - Sarah de Vere-Drummond
"Havelock may not be the easiest place in the world to get to, but boy, it's worth the effort. A coral-ringed island with some of the most spectacular beaches on earth and an abundance of nature's other pleasures awaits: mangrove creeks teeming with birdlife and crystal-clear seas filled with a dazzling array of aquatic life. And now there’s another reason to go: this stunning retreat carved into the virgin rainforest with 6 stylish suites, a private villa and a 16m ozone infinity pool. It was an overgrown banana plantation until British chef and entrepreneur Mark Hill enlisted a crack team of architects, artisan builders and crafters to clear the land and blend traditional Indian materials and techniques with fluid lines, modern minimalism and imagination. The result is a sublime hideaway with a laid-back vibe and luxe finishes. Rooms are arranged over staggered levels, leading down to an expansive decked platform and the glittering infinity pool. There’s an open-air massage suite, yoga classes, even a badminton lawn. Book island hopping excursions, private beachside picnics and jungle foraging walks then return here for a sundowner and some of the best views on the island. Highs The back-to-nature vibe with the spoiling benefits of a top hotel Cool and clean suites with dreamy bathrooms and bags of indoor and outside space Delicious food, with a seafood focus and tropical breakfasts The fun, sociable open-air bar and lounge; there’s a great cocktail menu and even a film projector for movies under the stars A perfect place to relax and rejuvenate - surrounded by virgin rainforest and no phones or TVs to distract you Lows We were the very first guests so we didn’t see some of the finishing touches, but we’re assured it’s firing on all cylinders now The hotel does not currently have a licence to sell alcohol on site - but you're free to BYO from duty free No WiFi in the rooms, but that's half the point (if you need to connect, there's WiFi in the bar/lounge) It's a remote island so getting here is an adventure, and things can be unreliable when you arrive - expect occasional power cuts (though there are now back up generators) or a shortage of produce from the mainland" - Sarah de Vere-Drummond
"A secluded boutique hideaway with a very intimate scale — three guest rooms, three suites and a private villa — characterized by polished plaster surfaces, wooden beams and no in-room televisions, encouraging guests to watch abundant birdlife, play board games provided by the property or relax in the infinity pool." - SilverKris
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