Wayanad, the mystical land of the paddy field, where the musty fragrance of tea fills the air, where the scent of latte flowers mixes with fresh dew, where froglets croak by the dozens before the rain, where adivasi beats , the fragrance of sandalwood from the temples, the incense from the churches and the calls from the mosques waft along with the mist, creating a magical fabric in this magical land.

Grassroots is set on a coffee plantation, with the Vythiri Ranges and majestic Chembra Peak looming to the right and the Banasura Range to the left. An ideal destination for the traveler who enjoys hiking, fishing, bird watching, wildlife viewing, biking, off-roading, or just relaxing. It overlooks the tea plantations, which have been there since the British first appeared.

Five luxurious and luxurious Swiss tents welcome you. They are spacious, airy, and feature warm, clean furnishings that fit together perfectly. All tents are air-conditioned and contain all the amenities a discerning traveler could ask for. The tents have satellite television; hot water is available throughout the day. WiFi is available. A select collection of movie CDs, a variety of books on the surrounding regions and wildlife can be found in the library.

The restaurant caters to global taste buds. The cuisine is mainly continental with some select Indian dishes. There are special menus for the little ones. Parents are encouraged to participate in breakout 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 species of endangered plants. Meet the founders Wolfgang Theuerkauf and Suprabha Seshan. The distance from the property is 65 Kms.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated Gurukulam as one of the 25 Biodiversity Centers in the world

There is no charge, but voluntary donations to the organization are welcome and gratefully accepted.

Half of the day

bicycle trips

Half-day to full-day bike trips can be arranged.

They have handicap bikes on the property and there are very scenic paths for biking. Traffic density is low.

Hiring extra charges

nature unit

At 28 km ride in a Jeep through spectacular forests of spectacular flora. The possibility of seeing wildlife is high. This can also include long walks at the end of the 28 km course.

The return trip by speedboat is also possible.

Visits to Arlem Wildlife Sanctuary and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

Trekking

The trekking is amazing in the Wayanad sanctuary. Possible in three ranges of Chethalayam (kuruva/kabini forest), Muthanga forest and Tholepatti. It is better to do it after some rains as the forests are quite dry now.

Arlem is a bird watcher’s paradise and can also be done on foot. This again is a full day program.

Hike to the Chembra Peak. There is a passable road to the base camp. Half of the day.

Hike to Banasura peak. A full day program.

Trikepetta Bamboo Village

Walk through the village and have lunch at a local villager’s house.

Duration: 4 hours

This will be through Trikepetta village, also called bamboo village.

There will be a guided tour of the area with a walk through the paddy fields/plantation. Visit to Uravu (an NGO involved in the field of Bamboo and Bamboo-related products). One could buy their products and for those attending a course in any of the bamboo making skills, that could be arranged at cost and with 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 will be cared for by the villagers in your honor (only the cost of the sapling will be paid to Uravu)

Hike to 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

Sailing and walking on the river.

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.

Cruise along the river in a village boat, seeing all the rural wayanad, time could be three hours. It could also include a lunch in a village house.

The cost of the boat trip would be 350 rupees per trip.

ornithology

Bird watching trips around the property can be arranged with a naturalist to explain; Duration 3 hours

banasurasagar lake

This has become a very poultry activity. There are no crowds. Cruise along the backwaters of the Banasurasagar Reservoir on a rural ferry known as the Changadam. One can travel for hours, stopping at will on islands and forests, and lunch, breakfast or tea can be arranged. Overnight stay in a mud hut near the water can also be arranged.

ayurvedic spa

The complex has a link with an Ayurvedic hospital. There are various medications and treatments available.

Get there

AIR

The nearest domestic airport is Kozhikode (Calicut), about 100 km away (approximately two hours by car).

Kochi International Airport is 140 km away. The drive from Kochi is around three to four hours.

Bangalore International Airport is also some 282 km away. The trip will take approximately five and a half hours.

LANE

The nearest station is Kozhikode (Calicut), 100 km from the complex. The station is well served by trains from all major cities in India, including Mumbai and Chennai.

ROAD

Take NH – 209 and take the Mysore – Kollengal route to the resort.. The journey from Bangalore to Wayanad (282 km) takes about 5 hours. The drive from Mysore (192 km) takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. The hotel can arrange pickups from Mysore and Calicut.