BENHEAL HOMESTAY — Hotel in Kerala

We selected Benheal Homestay because of our meal requirements having spent some time in an Ayurvedic Hospital. We needed to stay somewhere where we'd be able to have home cooked meals and of course needed a decent place to stay. After spending a long time on the road travelling, we were quite exhausted when we arrived at Benheal late in the day. The road leading to Benheal was undergoing repairs, so it appeared to be quite dusty and to be honest our initial reaction was one of uneasiness about the whole place. However, this was soon dispelled when we were greeted by Aloysious (the owner) who showed us to our room. We chose non-AC room which had a fan and was adequate for our requirements. The room was of decent size and clean with an attached bathroom. There was also a shared living room which we had to ourselves as there was no one else staying there at the time. We needed to have dinner and were shown a nearby restaurant by Aloysious which suited our dietary requirements. Next morning we had breakfast prepared by Seena (wife of the owner) which was delicious Kerala vegetarian food. Thereafter, the couple tried to inform us about Fort Kochi sites to see etc, despite neither of them being able to converse well in English. It was quite funny, but we understood everything they tried to inform us. Eleza, their daughter in law speaks English very well but had gone away during our stay at Benheal. However, she made sure that her in-laws understood our requirements in every detail. Thereafter, we stayed for another 3 nights and every morning we would have breakfast in their ground floor apartment, and both tried their best to make sure we were fed well and were happy with our stay. They would constantly ask if there was anything they could do to help! On the third day the couple had to go away very early in the morning for a bereavement meetup and were concerned that breakfast would have to be earlier than normal. We thought we had agreed with them not to worry about breakfast as we were quite happy to go out and eat, but in the morning, they had already prepared a delicious breakfast for us including hot tea and left everything in the shared living room ready for us to eat. We were really impressed that they had gone to such trouble despite their own issues. Aloysious goes for an early morning walk at 5.30am every day and when he informed me about this, I immediately jumped on his offer to let me go with him, which I did for 2 days. It was so refreshing as there’s hardly anyone else on the roads and we would take a long walk along the beach and finally after an hour’s walk and some time spent in the public gym, we would go to his favorite tea shop for a cuppa and a Bonda (fried potato ball). This was his chill out place before heading home again for the day ahead of him. We’d like to think we became very close to the couple despite the language barrier, and both could not do enough for us. They were always looking to serve us to the best of their abilities. All in all, Benheal was a really nice place for us to have stayed in for 4 nights and we are looking forward to staying with them again when we next...

If you’re looking for the perfect homestay experience in South India, look no further than Benheal Homestay. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warmth and kindness that made me feel instantly at home. The rooms are simple, spotless and comfortable, making it the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring Fort Kochi.

But the real highlight? The food. I can confidently say that I’ve never eaten better in all of South India. Every meal was a masterpiece, lovingly prepared by the mother of the house, who is a recognized cook by the Kerala Tourism Board. Her cooking isn’t just delicious—it’s made with so much love and authenticity that every bite feels special. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were simply out of this world, full of flavors I will never forget.

Beyond the amazing stay and food, what truly made my experience unforgettable was the family’s hospitality. A huge thank you to the entire family for making us feel so welcome, and a special thanks to the mother for her incredible meals and warmth, as well as Elsa for all the help and kindness. Staying here was more than just a place to sleep—it was an experience of genuine care and hospitality that I will cherish forever.

If you want to experience the best of Kerala, Benheal Homestay is the place to...

This is the perfect place to stay in Fort Kochi and I would highly recommend this homestay - I am a female solo traveller and this was the final stop on my 5 week tour of India, but one of the most memorable places I stayed. The family were so warm and welcoming, helped me with planning my days in Kochi, fed me delicious home cooked Keralan meals and arranged for my taxi to the airport. All was very straightforward and easy, with a big smile on their faces. Elza was very responsive on watsapp which is very useful and was able to organise my laundry and send my postcards which I am very grateful for. I stayed in AC room and the air con was perfect - the bed very comfortable and the room was clean. The location is ideal, being near both the Jew Town area and the Fort Kochi beach area - all very walkable. The only suggestion I would make is the possibility of a charging point or reading lamp beside the bed, but this is a very minor feedback. Thank you so much for a lovely end to my...