Believe it or not, but it is true that three villages have been merged to create a beautiful heritage property in South India which is now gained credence as INDeco Swamimalai.
The property allows you to experience village life in a luxury setting after combining three villages—a Tamil Brahmin village known as Agraharam, and two other villages—one artisan and one Muslim.
The USP of INDeco Hotels Swamimalai is that it is set amidst the three Grand Living Chola temples, and UNESCO World Heritage destinations, Darasuram, Gangaikondacholapuram and the Bragadeeswara Temple. The guests are welcomed here with saffron tilak, marigold garland and the welcome drink, which is endearing.
At first glance, it looks like a Shekhawati building adorned in a Tamil setup. Locals say that it is a miraculous translocation of the worthy heritage monument, The Mint Palace, from Chennai to INDeco Hotels Swamimalai. A Rajasthani businessman Bhansi Lal Rai Bahadur, once owned an interesting tall building in Madras which was called the Mint Palace. However, this beautiful building was razed to the ground in 2010 by the State Government to make way for another multi-storey complex. At that time, INDeco, under the leadership of Steve Borgia, acquired all pieces of the heritage building with a desire to erect it at a suitable location where it would remain forever.
From here, every pillar, jali frames and woodwork have been singularly edged in Rajasthan and transported to Chennai for this unique creation. Around 42 lorries, 120 conservation student volunteers, 40 craft masons, 30 labours and about 35 days of labour were consumed to do the job.
You will feel the serene surroundings here as the ceaseless chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaay’ fills the atmosphere and send waves of transcendence. Every nook and corner of the property is decorated with antiques collected from across the country which aptly depict the rich heritage of India. The magnificence and the grandness of the premises, as well as the rooms, built under the mentorship of Steve Borgia, an Indologist, make you feel like a royalty.
You will be surprised to know that the actual foundation stone for the epic property was laid in mid-July 1896, in Thimmakudy, a small hamlet in Kumbakonam. It took nearly a decade for the work to get completed and in 1906, the work was completed by Sri Srinivasa Iyer. Since then, Iyer and his future generations have been living here until the 1990’s. In 1996, the familial household changed hands and it is currently owned by Steve Borgia. At this point of time, the INDeco Hotels Swamimalai was manifested in an epic villa, exactly a hundred years after the original house was built. The most important prerogative was to ensure that the hotel emerged from the existing village framework, its heritage, culture, traditions, lifestyle, and practices. It has transformed from a home into a hotel and is now an experience, providing local flavour for the global market, created by local craftsmen, serviced by the neighbourhood and entertained through local talent.