Villa Jacaranda Bijou guesthouse in serene South Cliff area of Varkala overlooking the Arabian Sea. Just five individual rooms full of character, fragrant garden, lily pond & roof terrace. Ayurvedic massage and treatments on offer

The Guesthouse: Villa Jacaranda is set in a tranquil and green part of Varkala called South Cliff. It is a newly-built house, modern in concept with some traditional touches. There are five large and comfortable rooms for our guests to choose from. At ground level is the garden with a lily pond and fragrant subtropical plants. The terrace is upstairs, a good place to catch the sun. The beach is a five minute walk away - as is the ancient Hindu Temple of Janardhanaswamy, which is open to non-Hindus. There are several interesting shops and restaurants around North Cliff. As Varkala is a small town, everything is within walking distance.

The Building: There are four double rooms and one single room, each with its own bathroom and veranda space, and views of the Arabian Sea. Each room has its own character provided by an eclectic use of furniture that we have collected over the years. Breakfast is served in the mornings; tea, coffee and fresh fruit-juice during the day.

The Garden: We are keen gardeners, with a special fondness for water. So we built a large pond with a small fountain and stocked it with colourful fish and fragrant water lilies. Fragrance is provided night and day by the Night Queen, various forms of Jasmine plants, Michelia and Plumeria trees, Hedychiums and Mirabilis. The Oleanders, Alamandas, Bougainvilleas, Alpiniums, Heliconias, Clerodendrums, Cassias and Clitorias lend colour and form to the garden. And, of course, the two young Jacaranda trees that grow towards their destiny every day. The Mynas and Kingfishers and the Indian Tree Pie are among some of the many birds that visit the garden each day. Fireflies conduct their mysterious mating rituals under the coconut trees at night. There is a secret garden full of ferns, orchids and exotic shade loving plants at the back of the house. The roof terrace has hardier plants, the ones that withstand the rigours of the sun and the wind better. All these areas have been created for the enjoyment of our guests.