A short distance from the bustling temple town of Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, the Mantra Koodam eco-retreat invites you into a sanctuary of calm and rustic life
First, there is the unmissable sweet scent in the air. That of jasmine. Then the rhythmic temple chants. Then the buzz of the temple town of Kumbakonam makes way for Veppathur village’s calm, home to CGH Earth’s Mantra Koodam. This is as much an eco-luxury experience as it is an ode to the region’s longstanding traditions.
Built in the style of an agraharam, a traditional Tamil Brahmin street where houses (illams) line either side of it, Mantra Koodam unfolds like a living sketch of village life. The CGH property is elegant, orderly, and perfectly in tune with its surroundings.
Terracotta roofs, carved wooden pillars, and blue-oxide floors lend an understated beauty to each room, evoking the timeless charm of South India’s old homes. Walk barefoot across the floors and you’ll instantly feel the temperature drop, thanks to the thick canopy of trees and the resort’s deep respect for natural cooling.
street, where houses (illams) line either side of it.
The property itself is spread across lush gardens, interwoven with ponds and walkways that lead to courtyards, verandahs, and shaded sit-outs. Time pauses here. It’s easy to forget the world outside. Until the temple bells from nearby villages remind you that this is the land of the gods.
that lead to courtyards, verandahs, and shaded sit-outs.
yourself. (Photo courtesy: CGH Earth)
Mantra Illam – a lavish cottage with a sitting area and a spacious courtyard for
yourself. (Photo courtesy: CGH Earth)
The sacred centre
Kumbakonam lies at the sacred center of Tamil Nadu’s temple trail, a short drive from the grand Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, and close to a constellation of ancient shrines that have stood for over a thousand years. Each temple tells its own story through stone, bronze, and rhythm, and in these parts, art and devotion have always been entwined.
Just beyond the resort, in small, shaded workshops, artisans work the ancient craft of lost-wax casting, creating exquisite brass and bronze idols that are revered across the world. Watching them pour molten metal into earthen molds is to witness continuity itself; a tradition that has passed unbroken through generations, each sculpture infused with the maker’s quiet faith and precision.
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The service
What truly completes the Mantra Koodam experience, though, is its people. The staff here have a way of anticipating what you need before you even ask — a pot of hot filter coffee just when the afternoon lull hits, or a story about the nearby Chola temples shared with genuine pride. Most of them belong to the local communities and bring with them a deep understanding of the region’s rhythm. They’ll happily connect you with musicians, temple priests, and artisans, turning what could have been a simple stay into a window into Tamil Nadu’s living traditions. There’s warmth here; quiet, unpretentious, and deeply human.
At Panache World, we work closely with CGH Earth Hotels to curate immersive stays like these, moments where culture, comfort, and consciousness meet. Whether it’s a weekend of temple exploration or a deeper journey into Tamil Nadu’s artistic soul, we’ll help you discover the rhythm of Mantra Koodam; where tradition isn’t performed, it’s lived.
