boutique hotel x private villa
We love boutique hotels but we also love private villas - our concept for jalakara was to take the best bits from each and roll them into one. jalakara offers the privacy, informality, homeliness and bespoke possibilities of a private villa with the service and staffing of a small hotel. We aspire to a house party experience where guests naturally meet over sundowners at the pool or making a pot of coffee in the main villa kitchen.
guests are encouraged to unplug and log off from the digital excess of modern life and reconnect with themselves. we do not offer in-room audio-visual flatscreen entertainment, instead, log on to the beautiful tropical surroundings and the analogue pleasures of zero pollution, good food, good company, playing games, reading, swimming, massage, hassle free beaches and the great outdoors.
Jalakara is very boutique (petite) with three rooms, three suites and one private villa. We have a dedicated team of fifteen who defy the logistical challenges of our remote, off-grid, island location to deliver friendly, informal but efficient service.
so while there is no fawning service, gold taps or pillow menus - instead we offer the rare luxury of staying somewhere authentic, raw and beautiful in a spectacular setting, where the smiles are genuine, the food freshly picked & everything is designed to make you feel awesome!
a little bit of history
Jalakara first opened for its first full season in October 2016. Originally the property was an overgrown banana & betel nut plantation backing onto tropical rain forest. there was something lovely about the location -the quality of light in the afternoon, the abundance of nature and glimpses of fabulous views across the forest towards the sunset and sea.
Since then we have cleared the plantation, landscaped the property, planted trees, shrubs and flowers, dug a well and built a road. Working closely with a talented and dedicated team of architects, builders and craftsmen drawn from across India and beyond, the buildings and garden gradually took shape, developed and matured.
It is my vision of a dreamy, tropical hideaway
surrounded by nature, far from the humdrum
cares of the modern world. My wife, Atalanta &
I named the property Jalakara - A sanskrit word
meaning the fountain. We very much hope
staying at Jalakara may be a source of good
times, happy memories and rejuvenation for all
who visit us on this magical island.
Marko Hill
kirti k. joined the Jalakara team in 2019, becoming lodge manager in October 2021. originally from colorado, kirti not only brings a wealth of top class hospitality experience with him, but is a avid naturalist and qualified snow board instructor. when all is running smoothly, kirti still likes to lead guests on expeditions into the rainforest or out into the reefs of the andaman sea.
When to visit
Havelock island is a beguiling tropical destination all year round - temperatures never fall much below 20 Degrees Celsius and rarely exceed 32 degrees. What does change throughout the year is how much it rains! Typically between october and December the weather is clear with regular tropical rain showers, from January to May the weather is usually very settled with hardly any rain. May is a transitional month with the first showers of the rainy season. From mid june to the end of july it is the spectacular and energising monsoon season. Heavy rain showers are interspersed with occasional spells of dry weather and the island thrums with new life. To get an accurate idea of what to expect at different times of year you can view some weather statistics by clicking on the following link....