East Indies Mansion – Heritage home stay, George Town, Malaysia

Home stays are my all time preferred stay options. I love the idea of home setting, cozy rooms, warm bed and off-course little corner table with chai kettle. Well these things are something you get in hotel too but lacks personal touch. On the contrary, home stays are run by warm home owners and local people working in there. They aren’t taught by professionals to smile and hence, that piece sets the experience apart for me. A warm chat with them over the chai, just adds the zinc to the chai flavor.

When we booked this place during our visit to Malaysia, we didn’t exactly read its history. We just happen to book them on Agoda since it had high ratings. When we reached there, from outside the house looks like any normal house in George Town. Situated in the Little India street, in the heart of UNESCO Heritage

Zone of George Town, the charming East Indies Mansion, also known as the house of Koh Lay Huan, is a delightful place to stay that you will love. Spacious, quiet and breezy verandas; they all speak of the long history that breathes through the house. A little part of me just dream’t of owning a house like that some day.

This gorgeous historic mansion first built in 1793, is now a restoration result of three original Chinese houses. By looking at the East Indies Mansion from the street, we never imagined how immense the interior could be. A spacious entrance hall with a reception that opens into quiet veranda adorned with a plants and flowers everywhere and a lounge area that urges you to read a book or just relax and enjoy the silence. The veranda leads to various rooms and common dinning area and some more verandas. Every corner of the house is blooming with plants and flowers.

The architecture of the house is built on the principle of 5 elements – a common phenomena in Indian and Chinese architecture. The open veranda invites fresh flow of air and rain water that cleanses the house on all sides symbolising prosperity to seep into the house and into the lives of the people. The original frame of the house, walls, floors and most of the relics of the various house owners have been preserved which are on display at every corner. The house is a visual treat and one could spend hours adoring the heritage relics and details sprinkled all over the house.

East Indies Mansion features three spacious rooms (Standard Suites – Nutmeg), two large apartments (Deluxe Suite and Duplex Quadruple Room – Cinnamon), two family apartments on first floor (Family Suite – Anistar and King Suite – Clove) with each room serving a special feast to the eyes. We livid in Nutmeg which was a perfect place for 2 people on budget. 1 of the Nutmeg rooms has an tiny attic with a single bed and just perfect if you have toddler or 3rd person along. The staff is warm and attentive. The common dinning area has a well equipped kitchen which guests can use to cook some breakfast or coffee.

This mansion is also close to all stunning Chinese temples, amazing restaurants and other attractions of George Town making it a perfect choice to stay when in George Town. I would definitely love to visit them again someday and experience this house once again.

(Read my entire Malaysia tour with a tour to Kuala Lampur, Taman Negara, Cameroon Highlands, and George Town. Read about our other unique stays and cafes.)