This restored period building that is the hotel sits well with its colonial era surroundings and counterparts - the great trading houses of British India when pepper from Kerala was considered as precious as gold.
George Brunton and Sons were once among the most respected shipbuilders in Kochi. The location of their old boatyard was perfect, on a quiet harbour-front deep in the heart of Fort Cochin, where every by-lane could whisper tales from the city's colourful past.
Here, the hotel set about recreating the world of 19th century Malabar, using the precise building materials of the time - brick, lime, wood and terracotta.
Like the cultures they celebrate and display, Brunton Boatyard is a five star hotel whose interiors reflect an eclectic but tasteful blend of English, Portuguese and Dutch influences as seen in its high ceilings, hanging fans and a plethora of artifacts and curios from a great mercantile age known for its pomp and glamour.
The scent of colonial history is all around you as you take a tour of the historic Fort Cochin area where the hotel stands.
Though little remains of the fort itself there are legacies of its proud history to be seen everywhere.
Step outside into the balcony for a gorgeous view of the harbour.
The Chinese fishing nets are a sight to behold in Fort Kochi.
They are at their photogenic best at sunset.
Take a sunset cruise to behold the beauty of the scarlet sun plunging into the horizon.
All the 22 rooms of the Brunton Boatyard overlook the sea as do all their en-suite bathrooms; there are few pleasures to rival that of watching lazy ships and fishing boats or gamboling dolphins while going about your ablutions.
You will also catch some stunning sunsets over the palm fringed shores of Vypin Island close by and hear the cry of cormorants and gulls from your room, drawing you into a different world.
The wooden high ceiling, the terracotta floors, lime plastered walls and old teak wood furniture tell the story of Fort Kochi's colonial heritage. The old portraits, photographs and maps add to the charm of this vintage hotel.
A sunny afternoon spent soaking in a tub, watching life go by at the harbour is one of the many alternative ways to see Fort Kochi's many shades.
Spacious and spread over three floors, the suites comprise of a bedroom, living and dining area, pantry, bathroom, foyer, patio and a powder room.
Bathrooms have bath tubs and shower cubicles; their balconies afford a sweeping view of the harbor and the water traffic.
These rooms are located on the first and second floors, and comprise of a bedroom, bathroom, foyer and a patio.
The bathrooms have bath tubs and shower cubicles.
Spread over three floors, these rooms comprise of a bedroom, bathroom, foyer and a patio; the bathrooms have bath tubs and shower cubicles.
They afford a sweeping view of the harbor and the water traffic.
The Portuguese came to trade in spices but left behind the "Indian" red chilli here to innovate with; the Syrian Christian community cooked up a variety of pork and other dishes that went very well with the own native idiappams, or string hoppers.
The Jews of Cochin found coriander both Kosher and delicious and used it in a variety of their preparations,while the Dutch noticed that their puddings took on a whole new flavour with a pinch of fresh cinnamon.
Stop by in the evening for a quick snack, and sit at the waterfront watching the day end.
The cuisine is very international and includes a selection of pastas, salads and soups.
Armoury Restaurant opens for breakfast and serves a variety of cuisines.
There's something for everyone here.
Snack on delicious food in the garden filled with raintrees.
Armoury restaurant derives its name from the way the interior walls are adorned with guns and various weaponry.
International
The menu includes 32 cuisines from all the communities who have made Fort Kochi their home.
CHEF RECOMMENDS
Every CGH Earth property has a distinctive local dish to offer. At Brunton Boatyard it's something called "Railway Mutton Curry", a unique recipe invented by the Anglo Indian community of Fort Kochi. It is a favourite of celebrity chef Rick Stein who cannot recommend it enough at the History Restaurant.
APPAM
Appam is a pancake made from fermented rice batter, coconut milk and sweet toddy.
Traditionally synonymous with the Syrian Christian community, Appam is slow cooked in Clay or iron vessels with curved bottom.
CHUTTULLI MEEN
Another culinary delight with local overtones is the "Chuttulli Meen", a dish pioneered by the Jewish community of Fort Kochi.
This gastronomic gem will provide you with a rich reference point as you go about your conversations on culture, religion and history of the Jewish diaspora in God's own country.
The pier overlooking Kochi's historic harbor, is the perfect place for a romantic meal.
Enjoy great food at dusk with a view of the Arabian Sea.
Brunton Boatyard's own open-air, seafood-specialty restaurant. Open during dinner-time only, enjoy the fresh catch of the day, grilled and served the way you like it.
Watch Fort Kochi light up every night as you enjoy your seafood spread.
grilled seafood
You can try massages and treatments for everything from beauty and toning to rejuvenation and stress, all based on India's ancient healing art of Ayurveda; unsure of what you need?
The experienced physicians will be happy to give you a free consultation and point you in the right direction.
The properties are very walker friendly. The hotel's team believes that there are few substitutes for walking. It helps you observe more and is a wonderful form of exercise that can be enjoyed by everybody.
The pool at Brunton Boatyard is an anytime indulgence. You can use it to cool off after a hectic ramble through the historic streets of Fort Kochi or when you feel like some brisk laps to get your sluggish circulation going.
Experience a range of healing herbal massages and relaxing therapies to help you unwind and perk up. You owe it to yourself.
There is also yoga for those who need something more active. Find the inner harmony.
The Brunton Boatyard is a prestigious address in historical Fort Cochin today; its antecedents are even more captivating; Geo Brunton and Sons were respected ship builders in Kochi.
The location of their old boatyard in was perfect for them to recreate a setting that would bring alive again 19th century Malabar in the heart of Fort Cochin, where every lane still whispers tales from its alluring past.
Since Fort Cochin was under the possession of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British at different points of time, the region still bear the influence of European architecture and heritage.
Kochi has been drawing traders, explorers and travellers to its shores for over 600 years.
Nowhere else in India could you find such an intriguing mix: giant fishing nets from China, a 400-year-old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese houses and the crumbling remains of the British Raj.
The result is an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast.
It's a delightful place to spend some time and nap in some of India's finest homestays and heritage accommodation.
Kochi is also a centre for Keralan arts and one of the best places to see Kathakali and kalarippayat.
Mainland Ernakulam is the hectic transport and cosmopolitan hub of Kochi, while the historical towns of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, though well-touristed, remain wonderfully atmospheric - thick with the smell of the past.
Other islands, including Willingdon and Vypeen, are linked by a network of ferries and bridges.
Bike through the historic Jew Street and visit the antique shops, all along its sides.
These fishing net are fixed land installations introduced by Chinese explorer, Zheng He from the court of the Kubla Khan.
Take in the beautiful architecture of Fort Kochi on a cruise through the backwaters, courtesy Brunton Boatyard.
Today David Hall is a popular garden café serving the best Pizzas in town and its gallery has exhibitions of young and upcoming artists.
The hotel have a business centre to take care of your needs just in case it is unavoidable.
The gift shop at Brunton Boatyard is filled with historical memorabilia and crafts from Kerala that will make for excellent gifting options.
Mattancherry Palace,also known as the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry, Kochi, with its medieval charm, features Kerala murals depicting Hindu temple art, portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi.
Mattanchery is a bustling old market of the Kochi's spice trade. Scores of small stores huddle together in old, dilapidated buildings and the air is filled with the biting aromas of ginger, cardamom, cumin, turmeric and cloves.
From Brunton Boatyard, you can watch fancy cruise-liners and humongous ships enter the Cochin Harbour.
St. Francis Church, originally built in 1503, is the oldest European church in India and has great historical significance as a mute witness to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent.
The Brunton Boatyard's trusty craft departs from the private jetty, for a fascinating cruise around Cochin Harbour. Spectacular sunsets, glorious sea air and probably a dolphin or two!
BRUNTON BOATYARD-CGH EARTH
1/498, Calvetty RoadFort KochiKochiKerala 682001India