Wayanad, the mystical land of rice paddies, where the musty fragrance of tea fills the air, where the scent of the flowers of coffee with milk mixes with the fresh dew, where the frogs croak by the dozen before a rain, where adivasi beats , the sandalwood fragrance of the temples, the incense of the churches and the calls of the mosques, float together with the mist, creating a magical fabric in this magical land.
Grassroots sits on a coffee plantation, with the Vythiri Ranges and the majestic Chembra Peak looming large on the right and the Banasura Range on the left. An ideal destination for the traveler who enjoys hiking, fishing, bird watching, wildlife viewing, cycling, off-road driving, or just relaxing. It overlooks the tea plantations, which have been there since the British appeared.
Five luxurious and luxurious Swiss tents welcome you. They are spacious, airy, and feature warm, clean furnishings that fit the bill perfectly. All tents are air-conditioned and have all the amenities a discerning traveler could ask for. The tents come with satellite television; Hot water is available throughout the day. Wifi is available. In the library you can find a select collection of movie CDs, a variety of books on the surrounding regions and wildlife.
The restaurant caters to the world’s taste buds. The cuisine is primarily continental with a few select Indian dishes. There are special menus for the little ones. Parents are encouraged to participate in the informal sessions and spend time with the in-house chefs. The dining room opens to an outside space that has a commanding view of the magical surrounding mountains.
Activities
Visit to the Gurukulam
Visit the Gurukulam Botanical Sanctuary, home to some 2,000 endangered plant species. Meet the founders Wolfgang Theuerkauf and Suprabha Seshan. Distance from the property is 65 Kms
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated Gurukulam as one of the 25 centers of Bio diversity in the world.
There are no fees, but voluntary donations to the organization are welcomed and gratefully accepted.
Half of the day
Cycling trips
Half-day to full-day bike trips can be arranged.
They have adapted bikes on the property and there are very scenic bike paths. Traffic density is low.
Hiring of extra charges
Nature Drive
28 km Jeep ride through spectacular forests of spectacular flora. The chance of seeing wildlife is high. This can also include long walks at the end of the 28 km trail.
The return trip by speedboat is also possible.
Visits to Arlem Wildlife Sanctuary and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Trekking
Walking is amazing at Wayanad shrine. Possible in three ranges from Chethalayam (kuruva / kabini forest), Muthanga forest and Tholepatti. Better to do it after a few rains as the forests are quite dry now.
Arlem is a bird watcher’s paradise and can also be done on foot. Again, this is a full day program.
Hike to Pico Chembra. There is a passable path to the base camp. Half of the day.
Hike to the Banasura peak. A full day program.
Trikepetta Bamboo Village
Walk through the village and have lunch at the home of a local villager.
Duration: 4 hours
This will be through the village of Trikepetta, also called the bamboo village.
There will be a guided tour of the area with a walk through the rice fields / plantations. Visit to Uravu (an NGO involved in the field of bamboo and bamboo related products). One could buy their products and for those who attend a course in any of the bamboo making skills, which can be arranged at a cost and prior notice.
Visit a bamboo plantation and visit the 100-year-old Trikepetta Shiva temple for those who are interested.
Plant a bamboo sapling, which the villagers will grow in your honor (only the cost of the sapling will be paid to Uravu)
Walk into the woods, not strenuous
Lunch at the villager’s house (traditional vegetarian food) Rs 150 / head
To this would be added the cost of a local guide which is Rs 300 /, which will apply if the group is 1 or 20 people. The larger the size, the lower the cost / head
Boat ride and river ride.
Walk along the river, the rice fields and the tea plantations; approximate time 3 hours. This is right next to the property. You can also swim in the river.
Sail along the river in a village boat, seeing the entire country road, time could be three hours. It could also include lunch in a town house.
The cost of the boat trip would be Rs 350 / trip.
Bird watching
Bird watching tours can be arranged around the property with a naturalist to explain; Duration 3 hours
Lake Banasurasagar
This has become a very poulatr activity. There are no crowds. Cruise the backwaters of the Banasurasagar Reservoir on a rural ferry known as Changadam. You can travel for hours and stop at will in the islands and forests and lunch or breakfast or tea can be arranged. You can also organize a night in a mud hut near the water.
Ayurvedic spa
The complex has a link to an Ayurvedic hospital. There are various medications and treatments available.
Get there
AIR
The closest domestic airport is Kozhikode (Calicut), about 100 km away (about two hours by car).
Kochi International Airport is 140 km away. The drive from Kochi takes between three and four hours.
Bangalore International Airport is also approximately 282 km away. The journey will take you approximately five and a half hours.
LANE
The nearest station is Kozhikode (Calicut), 100 km from the resort. The station is well served by trains from major cities in India, including Mumbai and Chennai.
ROAD
Take the NH – 209 and take the Mysore – Kollengal route to the complex.. The drive from Bangalore to Wayanad (282 kms) takes about 5 hours. The drive from Mysore (192 kms) takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes. The hotel can arrange pick-ups in Mysore and Calicut.