Svatma
Tanjore

Svatma is a unique hotel in one of Tamil Nadu’s most remarkable ancient cities – Tanjore – which immerses its guests in traditional Tamil culture. A beautifully designed property which Relais & Chateaux has pinned on the South India map, a stay at Svatma will not disappoint.

As soon as you step through Svatma's doors, you can expect to be warmly welcomed by the proud Tamil owner, Krithika Subrahmanian; an accomplished architect and designer and an expert in classical Indian dance, with an in-depth knowledge and passion for architecture and the classical arts, Krithika is quite the renaissance woman.

Originally a 100-year-old family residence, the main heritage building has been lovingly and painstakingly refurbished to its former glory, while the newer building has been constructed in the same style as the original building. The 38 rooms and suites are all influenced by Tamilian building styles and materials, where fresh cream-washed walls compliment the polished dark wooden floors, as well as the wooden pillars and beams that piece the building together. There are seven heritage rooms in the old wing with verandas and twenty-seven millennium rooms in the new wing with contemporary décor. Each traditionally furnished room is generously sized, and comes with an en-suite bathroom, so they are ideal for couples and small families, as well as solo travellers. The hotel is also home to a small boutique shop, a library and a particularly beautiful pool. 

Svatma, literally translating as 'one's own soul’, is tucked away on a quiet lane opposite a church in the heart of historical Tanjore. A stroll out from here is a wonderful experience, as you plunge into the bustling streets of the city. And when you're in need of some peace and quiet, Svatma's spacious, landscaped grounds provide a lovely sanctuary to return to, with little to disturb you except the noise of birds and the chiming of the church bells.

There is a strong focus on health and wellness here, as the hotel has an impressive Ayurvedic spa 'Soukyam', a gym 'Arogyam', a yoga centre and a tranquil swimming pool. And in keeping with this concept, they have recently introduced a 'sound spa' called 'Swaram' which achieves a profound state of relaxation. It is worth bearing in mind that the hotel serves limited alcohol, but it offers three restaurants: a fine dining vegetarian restaurant called 'Aaharam' that serves delicious Tamilian dishes, a casual dining area called 'Palaharam' on the heritage wing's outdoor veranda, and a rooftop restaurant called 'Nila'. We highly recommend venturing up here as the day draws to a close to take a seat and enjoy the atmosphere.

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been.
Diane Arbus