Taj Malabar Resort & Spa

What it is

The hotel began as a government hostel. The Madras Government approved it in 1934 and inaugurated it on 8 March 1935 as the Willingdon Island Hotel. Historian M. K. Das is cited as saying it was completed in about four and a half months at a cost of two lakh rupees. Spencer's & Co. first managed it, and D. C. Johar & Co. later took over.

It was later renamed the Malabar Hotel. IHCL, the owner of Taj Hotels, acquired the property in 1984. The heritage wing, then 33 rooms, reopened on 14 April 1987, and IHCL later added a tower wing of 63 rooms.

Room counts that disagree

Wikipedia's infobox lists 93 rooms and 11 suites, while its history gives 33 heritage rooms plus a 63-room tower, which makes 96. A news report on the 2024 reopening gives 82 rooms and 11 suites. We cannot reconcile these, so we give none as the total. Ask the hotel for the current count.

The 2023 renovation closed the hotel for several months. The heritage wing kept its architectural style when it reopened in 2024.

Where it sits

The hotel is on Willingdon Island, which our itinerary describes as the tip of the island, facing the harbour. Fort Kochi, where our itinerary spends two nights at Brunton Boatyard, is across the water from it.

Rooms and the rate

A news report on the hotel's reopening after the renovation gave a starting tariff of INR 17,850 a night. Our prices its Kochi nights at Brunton Boatyard, so this page does not feed that total.

Who it suits

It suits travellers who want a hotel with a long record, run by Taj, on the harbour. It makes a different stay from Brunton Boatyard, which is in Fort Kochi.

It is a poor fit for anyone who wants to be inside the Fort Kochi lanes in the evening, since the hotel is on the island across the water.