Hosts: Drs. Anurag & Sujata Goel
When: October to May
Length: As long as you wish
Number of guests: up to 4 adults, 2 children
Fee: About US$35 per person per day, but this depends on how long you stay and what attractions and accommodations you choose.
 
BACKGROUND INFO:
The tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats of India are amongst the richest in the world and this region has been internationally recognized as one of the important hotspots of biodiversity that need to be preserved. Our research farm is situated 10 km north-west of Madikeri Town in one of the most natural and scenic areas of Kodagu District (in the heart of the Western Ghats). At 1100m altitude, we enjoy a superb climate from October to May. It is sunny with temperatures reaching 20-27 C by Day and 10-18 C at night.
When you visit us you will participate in an exciting ecological experiment as you learn how coffee, cardamom, pepper and vanilla are cultivated organically in the shade of rainforest trees, and see for yourself the different methods of biological pest control being developed and practiced at the Research Farm. This area is also rich in medicinal plants and many of the local tribals depend on them as their only source of healing. You will learn first hand about the diversity of these plants and their many uses.
After a leisurely 3 days of exploring the Research Farm and surrounding areas, you have an opportunity to visit several other plantations in Kodagu. Each one is unique and has its own charms. Changes of season witness the harvest of different crops and each is associated with its own colourful traditions and festivals. The people of Kodagu are famous for their hospitality and you will have the opportunity to interact with local people from all walks of life.
 
THE GUESTHOUSE:
Our guesthouse is an elegant cottage set in a rustic surrounding of bamboo, banana, coffee, and orange plants. This guesthouse has been specially designed to meet international standards of style and comfort. It features 2 bedrooms (with attached western toilets), a spacious living room complete with kitchenette and fire place and a beautiful verandah overlooking a crystal clear stream.
During your stay, some of your meals will be served at the main house where guests can avail the facilities such as our library, slide collection and international telecommunication services (including e-mail), and the best blues music collection in the country. The cuisine is a careful selection of delicious Indian and Continental foods, featuring home-made breads and pastas, savory curries, fresh seafood, locally grown organic vegetables and fruits (passion fruit, avacado, pineapple, mango, papaya, orange, etc.) and coffee.
GETTING HERE:
India has several major international airports (Mumbai/Bombay, Delhi, Chenai/ Madras, Calcutta). From there you can easily take connecting flights (or trains) to Bangalore, Mangalore or Mysore where you will be personally met and escorted to our plantation near Madikeri, in the comfort of our private vehicle. Madikeri is 250 km (road journey of about 6h) from Bangalore and 140 km from Mangalore (road journey of 4h).
LOCAL TOURS:
In addition to its great natural wealth, India has a rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years, so we have planned escorted road tours of the most interesting and beautiful places in the area. Some sites are a bit off the beaten track, but we have carefully planned our tours with your comfort and safety in mind. We provide all transportation, guides, accommodation and meals - just sit back and enjoy the ride. Here are our main tours:
- Sandalwood City Tour: Mysore is known as the City of Sandalwood and is a mecca for tourists from all over the world as you will see for yourself. This is a famous centre for arts and crafts which makes it a great place to shop for sandalwood, rosewood and teak carvings and furniture, 'aggarbatti' (handmade incense sticks), and silk. Mysore also has one of the most colourful markets in India. It is not possible to leave empty-handed. Some of the sites that you will visit are the Maharaja's Palace and Chamundi Hill, with its 12th century Hindu temple and a 4.5m monolithic statue of the Nandi Bull. Other highlights include visits to a silk farm, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Srirangapatna and the 13th century Hoysala Temples at Somnathpur. You can also live like a king for a night in the splendour of the famous Palace Hotel (optional, costs extra).
- Temple Tour: The temples at Belur and Halebid are testimony to one of the most artistically exuberant periods of Indian History. Built in the begining of the 12th century, each one is intricately carved and scenes depicting the life and times of the Hoysala rulers and their dieties. The sheer wealth of sculptured detail make these buildings some of the most interesting to be found anywhere in the world. In contrast, nearby at Sravanabelagola, stands the simplistic giant statue of Lord Gomteshwara built in 981 A.D. At 17m height, this is supposedly the tallest monolithic statue in the world. This is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres in India.
- Jungle Tour: For fellow wildlife enthusiasts, we have designed a special tour that takes you through 4 major wildlife sanctuaries spread over 3 different States - Nagarhole and Bandipur (Karnataka), Wynnad (Kerala) and Mudumulai (Tamil Nadu). Together these comprise the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve (the largest reserve forest in South Asia) and are an integral part of Project Tiger. You will witness the changes in vegetation and wildlife as you travel from the tropical evergreen forests of Kodagu and Kerala to the dry deciduous forests of Tamil Nadu. Some of the animals you are likely to encounter are elephants, bison, deer, monkeys, hyenas, bears, snakes and a variety of birds, and if you are fortunate, the majestic Indian tiger. You will also experience the thrill of riding on elephant back through the jungle. This Tour includes an exclusive 2 night stay at Jungle Trails, Masinagudi, and one night at the Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Konkan Coast Tour: Driving westward down the scenic Western Ghats through rubber, betelnut and cashew plantations, one reaches the beautiful blue waters of the Arabian Sea. The entire coast of Karnataka is full of unspoilt beaches dotted with quaint fishing villages. From the port town of Mangalore, we will take you along the Konkan coast to Turtle Bay Beach Resort. There you can relax in the quiet comfort of this private beachside resort while you soak in the sun and the sea and feast on delicious seafoods- mussels, crab, calamari, lobster and fish cooked in traditional Konkan style. You will also have the unique opportunity to visit an uninhabited coral island and explore fascinating coral reefs where you can encounter stingrays, paintfish, and giant lobsters. Other highlights include a drive through evergreen forests to the 300m high jog falls and a visit to the Hindu pilgrimage centre of Gokarna and its magnificent beaches.
- Northern Karnataka Tour: Hampi was once the capital of one of the largest empires in Indian History. The Vijayanagar Empire at its zenith (early 16th century) controlled the entire Deccan Plateau. The magnificent ruins of temples, palaces, market places are scattered over 45 sq. km amidst a strange and mysterious landscape of giant granite boulders. This site has been declared a world heritage centre. Spend a few days wandering through history. You will see the giant statues of Lords Narasimha and Ganesha, Elephant Stables, and the famous Stone Chariot at the Vitalla Temple and much more. Other nearby places of historical interest are ancient (4th - 5th century) Chalukyan temples at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.
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