Nestled among the mountains of Western ghats lies Wayanad, one of the most loveliest and romantic hill station of Kerala. Wayanad lies at an altitude varying from 700 – 2100 metres above the sea level. The hills, rocks and valleys, which give shape to the very unique terrain of Wayanad provide for exceptional adventure experiences. Mountains and forests in Wayanad intersperse to create numerous outback trails and trekking. This more than enough of an incentive for me to pack my bags and leave for a stay at a plantation bungalow, Tranquil in Wayanad.A flight to the international airport at Calicut(Kozhikode) and then a brief road journey lasting two hours got me to Tranquil.Tranquil is also accessible by road and air from Bangalore. It is a 5 hour picturesque drive along good and motorable roads which will take you through the heart of Karnataka.
Tranquil plantation home stay was essentially a microcosm of Wayanad itself.In the midst of a lush rain forest and sprawling over 400 acres estate of coffee plantation, lay a charming bungalow.The elegant bungalow, had a charming court yard paved with large slabs of natural granite stone.I was at once made comfortable by the effusive welcome accorded by the host and plantation director Victor Dey. I noticed a sparkling pool,and private eyries with hammocks and swing chairs laid out at vantage points all around the bungalow.It was a treat for the eyes to behold the lush gardens, ablaze with scarlet hibiscus,myriad birds , potted geraniums and busy lizzies. There was the inescapable whiff of coffee in the ambient air. There were eight rooms at the bungalow but I had chosen to stay at the Tree Villa. It was a childhood dream to own a tree house and when I learnt that had a tree house at Tranquil, I decided to make the most of the opportunity.
My Tree house was set in the branches of a Gulmohar trees at a height of 35 meters from the ground.As I worked my way up the inclined gangway that led to the tree house, I felt a rush of excitement.As a kid, this had been the stuff of my dreams. The tree house was elegant in design and construction and the rosewood floor had a warm feel to it.It was tastefully decorated in a traditional style. There was large bed and the bedroom was lined with a protective mosquito screen. There was a color television, a refrigerator and telephone too. The bathroom was modern with a six-point shower and western style loo. There was large verandah with lovely cane chairs from where one could enjoy the lovely views of the verdant surroundings. The setting was just the way I had imagined and I was totally overjoyed by the initial experience.
Food was served at a large table on the terrace beautifully laid with crisp napiery (a new set at every meal) and decorated with hibiscus or jasmine.I had a sumptuous breakfast of tropical fruits, fresh juice, local vegetarian dishes and Western-style eggs, sausages, home-baked breads and jams. It was during the breakfast that I learnt of the culinary expertise of Jini, wife of Victor.Jini ensured that every meal during the stay is a unique experience and she had several home made delicacies to ensure that no body gets tired of being presented with the same repertoire of Kerala specialties.
In the evening, everybody would meet for extremely civilized drinks & snacks in the host’s private, beautifully decorated drawing room, where you get to meet your fellow guests. Dinner was served along with fascinating conversations sitting at big tables – the range of people who come here is wide and varied and greatly enhances your stay here.Cocktails were taken chez the Deys, with soup served in a mug to herald the onset of dinner. Dinner itself was a lavish affair with Jini’s delicious tender coconut, chicken and corn broth, artily served in a green coconut shell. Puddings included chocolate torte and fresh mango soufflé. IN the night as I lay curled up in my tree house, I could hear the cacophony of nocturnal sounds that was like melody to the ears and I tried to match the sounds to the various birds and insects that I knew of before falling in to a deep slumber.
In the morning as I sat on the veranda with some freshly brewed coffee watching the sun slowly rising over the horizon and the many species of birds going about their busy lives, the rays of the sun burning away the mist, the experience was nothing less than surreal.
There was a wonderful walk to one of the hills on the estate which offered a fantastic panoramic view for miles.
There were seven excellently signed walks, pitched at all levels, from ‘The Teaser’ to ‘Indiana Jones’ or ‘Braveheart’ – up through the coffee plants to the viewpoint rock at approximately 3,000 ft, from where there was an excellent view of the misty plains way below.Delicious little onion pakoras and blueberry tartlets – were served at the top.
The adventurous can then scramble up ‘Cliffhanger’ to Kuppamudi peak for a fabulous 360 degree view. I joined Victor in a plantation tour to check out how coffee and vanilla are grown and dried.We toured the plantation and saw how coffee, vanilla and spices were grown .I also visited a tea plantation and factory, the Eddakal Caves with 5000-year-old etchings and Muthanga Game Sanctuary, half an hour away. Although I didn’t see tigers, I did see elephants, malabar squirrels, bison and langur monkeys.The Eddakal caves had engravings dating back to the New Stone Age (2500 B.C.) The rock wall had some interesting carvings, which represent human and animal figures and objects of human use and symbols.After the outdoor expeditions, I thoroughly enjoyed the cool dip in the swimming pool at Tranquil with my favorite sweet lime soda.
They also had facilities for a ayurvedic treatment and massages by trained therapists and the estate shop is the ideal place to shop for plantation produce- vanilla bean, cardamom, coffee bean, and pepper.
I made the most of my stay at the tree house and befriended a squirrel which would visit me in the evenings to feed on the nuts that I would keep in the verandah. I named him ‘Chotu’ and he loved to roam around my tree house when I was there.It was a simple joy to sit in the verandah and read a book even as the eyes would wander frequently to watch the antics of the birds and squirrels.When the time came to bid goodbye to Tranquil, I looked around for my little friend who was nowhere to be seen. However, as I climbed down the gangway and looked up one last time, I saw him and for a brief moment our eyes met and I bid a silent good bye to my lovely friend who squirted away among the branches. While I loved my tree house stay, I was sure he had a better one hidden somewhere in those branches.Even today, when I chance upon a squirrel in the neighborhood park, I am reminded of my lovely, little friend ‘Chotu’.
