INDeco Hotels Swamimalai, 1896 Tanjore Village.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">I had posted about <a href="http://rangdecor.blogspot.in/2007/06/unique-heritage-hotel-sterling.html" target="_blank">this serene place</a><b> </b>near <i>Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu</i> way back in 2007 when I had just started the blog, it was called <b><a href="http://rangdecor.blogspot.in/2007/06/unique-heritage-hotel-sterling.html" target="_blank">Sterling Swamimalai</a></b>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since then it has evolved into a even more beautiful heritage resort and has been rechristened INDeco Hotels, <b><a href="http://www.indecohotels.com/swamimalai.html" target="_blank">Swamimalai, 1896 Tanjore Village.</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz9ycz_Z65Vurtz0dQ619_HTBn4z0L9GM3aZMu5wbOkDwrZjzP6Tro0z8dn2RZkyO8ow7pv4v9SDRiRpD6M6ByUBq1i8S04Soh-zOdUseGi8RB40w4wPLZzbU2P_ACMz5uhimPuwlvaw/s1600/k3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz9ycz_Z65Vurtz0dQ619_HTBn4z0L9GM3aZMu5wbOkDwrZjzP6Tro0z8dn2RZkyO8ow7pv4v9SDRiRpD6M6ByUBq1i8S04Soh-zOdUseGi8RB40w4wPLZzbU2P_ACMz5uhimPuwlvaw/s640/k3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>INDeco Hotels <a href="http://www.indecohotels.com/swamimalai.html" target="_blank">Swamimalai, 1896 Tanjore Village</a> </b>is a heritage resort which consists of a painstakingly restored main village home built in the late 1896 and many other heritage structures which have been restored to create an ambience of a Tanjore Village.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAtaSBolaH9VzS0Yz0mSf_eEjlfLkjgic4JZXIfwMR10z3oPs2IAdYEBw7T7iPoE-5_ZHRnFEBzu0YhITOLuitITWvy7jXdQX_1p_6BDo2ekYKIspkQmXUgHD1mNJ5OFH3qikiWAFjDo/s1600/k2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAtaSBolaH9VzS0Yz0mSf_eEjlfLkjgic4JZXIfwMR10z3oPs2IAdYEBw7T7iPoE-5_ZHRnFEBzu0YhITOLuitITWvy7jXdQX_1p_6BDo2ekYKIspkQmXUgHD1mNJ5OFH3qikiWAFjDo/s640/k2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Terracotta figurines and idols compliment the heritage space with pops of burnt red.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafkqWgmKDcePwkUzauP1B676C-ov2Lir5QXVklhuI8SZZlQwug3p4W9zZhjnXifTNYwx7XOMvqbRjFLi6CEbWJ1AK6i17aDSSJ1xXfnmppHJpwGWLBMh_bkdXWqP3VA8gdMTP3t36PT4/s1600/k14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafkqWgmKDcePwkUzauP1B676C-ov2Lir5QXVklhuI8SZZlQwug3p4W9zZhjnXifTNYwx7XOMvqbRjFLi6CEbWJ1AK6i17aDSSJ1xXfnmppHJpwGWLBMh_bkdXWqP3VA8gdMTP3t36PT4/s640/k14.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-je5lBAUOWNcqOaN_do0qlKYNjfQV14qcEU-CvM3IFd0hu-i5XX03NDm6pVGjua_K9ZFw4LhvPT7hRsIDNZ_8icJNKBSI33evXHDANzIMtZu1aiPwlUfRfNsymjxdAGg1IItEIIyYwY/s1600/k10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Painted prayers~ <i>Kolams</i> adorn the brick paths and entrances to the rooms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyg3PQSxxaKpzuygtZxZmkRKTjDZkZhOk9Pc1WXfUP0KCpGfRb5znvxesaDK0AMn0Q2rFZhm_c7vl7jAdun4jHPwxwk3IIFs2iCepfu6TB2K_LR_VSycyIQnPufPr6Wpj-zo0FuqmFbc/s1600/slate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyg3PQSxxaKpzuygtZxZmkRKTjDZkZhOk9Pc1WXfUP0KCpGfRb5znvxesaDK0AMn0Q2rFZhm_c7vl7jAdun4jHPwxwk3IIFs2iCepfu6TB2K_LR_VSycyIQnPufPr6Wpj-zo0FuqmFbc/s640/slate.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">My daughter learning to make little <i>kolams</i> on a little chalkboard...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtUh_Lq4-YALDIPXKAH2rO_zWCARSX9qpGNlHQbGdwM2ZFFc5DVPb0LBM5lcIjzD3u4X4ijiRiBIRaterrDSMa24-KUo_7qIl6xOCFnXFkF8elSQeI4d8ueNqeKvxCGlZ8C-M0FnbAsY/s1600/k11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtUh_Lq4-YALDIPXKAH2rO_zWCARSX9qpGNlHQbGdwM2ZFFc5DVPb0LBM5lcIjzD3u4X4ijiRiBIRaterrDSMa24-KUo_7qIl6xOCFnXFkF8elSQeI4d8ueNqeKvxCGlZ8C-M0FnbAsY/s640/k11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Kolams</i> are drawn every morning after a generous sprinkling of water on the paths.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg6NhE9uWWlKPqPUbr4E6LNB9Us1pukU1ZFYbl0tZSGpJ2ZdG9vYCiR0Pg54msH9JfwYGKlDgqO-ihQjXmD95iz8Jy7uKH65K40-mqrqczggb-Lz-wfrCkOIr8v5bkvVG0cHZzKnGigo/s1600/k1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg6NhE9uWWlKPqPUbr4E6LNB9Us1pukU1ZFYbl0tZSGpJ2ZdG9vYCiR0Pg54msH9JfwYGKlDgqO-ihQjXmD95iz8Jy7uKH65K40-mqrqczggb-Lz-wfrCkOIr8v5bkvVG0cHZzKnGigo/s640/k1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The swimming pool has been designed like the village temple tank with niches for earthen lamps that I imagine would create magic on special days and festivals...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-je5lBAUOWNcqOaN_do0qlKYNjfQV14qcEU-CvM3IFd0hu-i5XX03NDm6pVGjua_K9ZFw4LhvPT7hRsIDNZ_8icJNKBSI33evXHDANzIMtZu1aiPwlUfRfNsymjxdAGg1IItEIIyYwY/s1600/k10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-je5lBAUOWNcqOaN_do0qlKYNjfQV14qcEU-CvM3IFd0hu-i5XX03NDm6pVGjua_K9ZFw4LhvPT7hRsIDNZ_8icJNKBSI33evXHDANzIMtZu1aiPwlUfRfNsymjxdAGg1IItEIIyYwY/s640/k10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">White-washed terra-cotta <i>'<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yali_(Hindu_mythology)" target="_blank">yalis'</a></b></i> guard the dining hall which is tucked amidst thick banana plantation.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtOF3HU2SyIQww1K3Yf4JdCEB6ktgik2hTnA6PLvy-ZWYFu7ndtzZ7ThTUAmIpQHkVGTiSEueLmsz2Ezqqfda0_cgMr_uQ144IlI5xrfxThU1PJK_3argIO51nTdSreM-WbzTFGZEh3c/s1600/k5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtOF3HU2SyIQww1K3Yf4JdCEB6ktgik2hTnA6PLvy-ZWYFu7ndtzZ7ThTUAmIpQHkVGTiSEueLmsz2Ezqqfda0_cgMr_uQ144IlI5xrfxThU1PJK_3argIO51nTdSreM-WbzTFGZEh3c/s640/k5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Beautifully designed entrances to various rooms in the resort.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX5P3F155WOmzr2MLkdrkZo8RPwBDfE5evARCpeHqlvRGkajv1U1AXlaVwdtH6CuVIw4JQB_4RvM-WBlfpB5b9LmG6V84V0hlIF6SURqYshdxp1JByUR1rfwK7wdQtUkP6rBI0pHPcGM/s1600/k13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX5P3F155WOmzr2MLkdrkZo8RPwBDfE5evARCpeHqlvRGkajv1U1AXlaVwdtH6CuVIw4JQB_4RvM-WBlfpB5b9LmG6V84V0hlIF6SURqYshdxp1JByUR1rfwK7wdQtUkP6rBI0pHPcGM/s640/k13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Few walls are painted red and white reminiscent of South Indian temples with beautiful sculptures of Gods & Goddesses.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarWyRCHs4JXTfwSoukcmE5q0NO1Jlzdmh2OZg0fZg0Fmk0TooaQfPadiFZuFraS1IWVlTgKsGFM0G0T6y_R7mnL8V2NKqEsgQANGCmhjYSZNm3YfVVddQZn7GsbJsaxueOeRuCV7-LAE/s1600/nagalingam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarWyRCHs4JXTfwSoukcmE5q0NO1Jlzdmh2OZg0fZg0Fmk0TooaQfPadiFZuFraS1IWVlTgKsGFM0G0T6y_R7mnL8V2NKqEsgQANGCmhjYSZNm3YfVVddQZn7GsbJsaxueOeRuCV7-LAE/s640/nagalingam2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trees in the resorts have faces! The Cannonball tree <i>(Nagalingam)</i> seem to come alive with a terra-cotta face and floral hairdo. <i>So delightful!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkG1SSk4HI16lfXSKQcpqT4ZYkq6B5z2i3TIkQO3HVtxEtF_-_w60F7UTpF5_1GowXcPS09XBvCQJoM5hb5X36ULczgU2YIvW_otByCP_wwll8GtcnPvDMnIVMkxlHxe0yo9iCt2LEqg/s1600/ku3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkG1SSk4HI16lfXSKQcpqT4ZYkq6B5z2i3TIkQO3HVtxEtF_-_w60F7UTpF5_1GowXcPS09XBvCQJoM5hb5X36ULczgU2YIvW_otByCP_wwll8GtcnPvDMnIVMkxlHxe0yo9iCt2LEqg/s640/ku3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Cannonball flower has such a mesmerizing fragrance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglvVaKKtbfZsvADiQC49jtN4fPbblJCNZac6QD8OLWHBxqmzSjeg1kpe6_ToAQ_Haj9UADPHBPt7kBw1ZJYXGDgAmxF29cuXnuRqkMFL2dN3LFFlsbl5IYVvrkaKy8cPIjMMJM0ZktV8/s1600/k12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglvVaKKtbfZsvADiQC49jtN4fPbblJCNZac6QD8OLWHBxqmzSjeg1kpe6_ToAQ_Haj9UADPHBPt7kBw1ZJYXGDgAmxF29cuXnuRqkMFL2dN3LFFlsbl5IYVvrkaKy8cPIjMMJM0ZktV8/s640/k12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> The terra-cotta Gods are omnipresent:-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg_bxaIEGnhXlAwRyuuRinkoV7Pq8vAHZCUBr7Lx8uUb8t9v66A5Yzc8GS1d2bvF2jZ3ys14-PSs12tZi_ylIi63D1yp110-mc02Csioj0a1dTMuhzx-WeUcx5NVujVu1lxM_VY8qyZw/s1600/k9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg_bxaIEGnhXlAwRyuuRinkoV7Pq8vAHZCUBr7Lx8uUb8t9v66A5Yzc8GS1d2bvF2jZ3ys14-PSs12tZi_ylIi63D1yp110-mc02Csioj0a1dTMuhzx-WeUcx5NVujVu1lxM_VY8qyZw/s640/k9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The resort has been conceived and designed by <b><a href="http://steveborgiaprofile.blogspot.in/" target="_blank">Steve Borgia</a></b>. It also houses the <i>Steve Borgia Indian Heritage Museum </i>where you can see a beautiful collection of antiques and collectables. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgclVaNcnG8o2bIR8YPNWdJ3rDIu6dkC5FkZPGvFMytJ_2SqcPTs3kOOmUW5yKi-aj6nyxQUi6a-dMAbGSLnhyXr7A3GuhNbxjUnhCzw0MfDf80Q2X0o7jlQjDlaQddO4aDdnRa77P-I/s640/k7.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Lovely geometrical patterns created by Mr. Sun.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-CNpDpmzU4bNuS0osluY0Gws90sN70cD4Ryk6Ya804pGqIPBx7pq4qEjH939MZHqS8QHWxlZMKK5USal5ujsMjIXt_bKVF0YnJ_FRQDz59Cnea7PcSXOZdY78dat24cpxjvXvF9RNEI/s1600/k16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-CNpDpmzU4bNuS0osluY0Gws90sN70cD4Ryk6Ya804pGqIPBx7pq4qEjH939MZHqS8QHWxlZMKK5USal5ujsMjIXt_bKVF0YnJ_FRQDz59Cnea7PcSXOZdY78dat24cpxjvXvF9RNEI/s640/k16.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A huge <i>Lord Shiva</i> face in the museum open courtyard.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5TbdLbHIZTvhhnLsAwCqGvCuGe_g5d1W1emHLCLT7ooVpOGSVSn8FM9KWpEglpCNPIESYn10eWT77348bJ8qN-xrntjwGLPixG931nCLyfhY54iC9qq8Pugo9D6sb-P-8a65_kxr6Tk/s1600/k6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5TbdLbHIZTvhhnLsAwCqGvCuGe_g5d1W1emHLCLT7ooVpOGSVSn8FM9KWpEglpCNPIESYn10eWT77348bJ8qN-xrntjwGLPixG931nCLyfhY54iC9qq8Pugo9D6sb-P-8a65_kxr6Tk/s640/k6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> The sun-bathed courtyard in the 1896 village home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZ1a0Xu51dewdiCXX0eR7ox7omsGG8XWazGQywF0_iUn3mWHHu8Due5VBC_Y0n0wAwg9_lb8-XZ_Km8c07K8laAKSGY-OwZVAfDFYosqDegrGX_bWjxUm3f3fzi11cVhyfBmfyM2pkLg/s1600/k8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZ1a0Xu51dewdiCXX0eR7ox7omsGG8XWazGQywF0_iUn3mWHHu8Due5VBC_Y0n0wAwg9_lb8-XZ_Km8c07K8laAKSGY-OwZVAfDFYosqDegrGX_bWjxUm3f3fzi11cVhyfBmfyM2pkLg/s640/k8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> A peacock enjoys the morning sunlight...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vmhz2AmGVrQ3CvDhLLyJt6Nr04vqSE_YnumN93Prn8vwAYgYng7KYD9C6NqQSXjLN6g6pgwcDUedFVnZHd0e9PBEuMNGe18WX_d8rQpC9Su_8dqX7qmPX1RCyg28gKOgN9EWdmk16y0/s1600/degree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vmhz2AmGVrQ3CvDhLLyJt6Nr04vqSE_YnumN93Prn8vwAYgYng7KYD9C6NqQSXjLN6g6pgwcDUedFVnZHd0e9PBEuMNGe18WX_d8rQpC9Su_8dqX7qmPX1RCyg28gKOgN9EWdmk16y0/s640/degree.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope you enjoyed the tour of the stunning South Indian village style, heritage resort. So next time you are on a South Temple trip in Tanjore District, do check out <b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_893202163">INDeco Hotels</a></b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_893202163"> </a><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_893202163">Swamimalai, 1896 Tanjore Village</a></b><a href="http://www.indecohotels.com/swamimalai.html" target="_blank">.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a great day with a stainless steel tumbler of the famous frothy<b> </b><i>Kumbakonam Degree Coffee</i>:-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>(Images by Arch)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

INDeco Hotels Swamimalai, 1896 Tanjore Village.

I had posted about this serene place   near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu  way back in 2007 when I had just started the blog, it was called Sterling...

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