Wish to enjoy some real solitude and serenity amid pristine nature? Then, head to this homestay in the misty hills of Kerala’s Wayanad district. The ‘Nature Inn’ homestay is located on the slope of a hill and can be reached by travelling along the banks of a stream in an agricultural village named Poyil.
Guests can park their vehicle in front of the house of James, the caretaker of the property, and trek on foot along a steep path uphill cut through red stone. However, some adventurous visitors drive up this rough track all the way to Nature Inn.
The property
The homestay is a building with walls of red stone and sloping roof covered with tiles. There are two bedrooms and the interiors flaunt all modern facilities. Take a stroll to the back side of the house and you would notice the ‘junda’ stone installed by the Forest Department marking the boundary of the forest, which stretches all the way to Kottiyoor. One can check Google Maps to confirm this fact.
The surroundings
Direct your eyes anti-clockwise from the front of the house. On the right, the forest adjacent to the Inn gives way to paddy fields a little further. Meanwhile, mist hovers above and over it protrude the peaks of several blue mountains.
The forest continues beyond the paddy fields on a small hillock. James would inform you that tea was grown on that hillock in the past. Further on the left side, there are a few houses and Poyil village. This area is followed by Muneeswaran Hill, which is referred to as the ‘Vagamon of Wayanad’. Its peak resembles a bald head, but below are luscious ‘shola’ forests. Still towards the left one can notice the peak of Makkimala between the trees. It is the place where wild bison could be sighted.
Adjacent to Makkimala is a small tea garden and next to it is the forest bordering Nature Inn.
The experience
Two families can enjoy a comfortable stay at Nature Inn. James lives nearby and can provide tasty food prepared using locally-grown tapioca and other vegetables. Fish curry made with coconut is another attraction.
Evenings can be spent on the veranda, where mist surrounds everything around. Meanwhile, moths make their way to the homestay in search of light and guests at Nature Inn can watch the lights of the houses in the valley below gradually disappearing as darkness intensifies and mist thickens.
The route
Nature Inn is situated at Thalappuzha, near Mananthavady. Travel along Mananthavady - Thalassery Road and take a deviation at Thalappuzha. Continue straight ahead after the Forest Station at Thavinjal and reach the Poyil village, where the homestay awaits travellers.
The food
There are some small hotels offering a good meal including fish curry at Thalappuzha, like City Mess owned by Basheer ‘Ikka’. At Basheer’s eatery, Khadeejumma serves the food on a banana leaf with passion. If guests wish to have food at Nature Inn, inform James ‘Chettan’ in advance.
For more details, contact phone number 9747606780.
