Mayuram Farm-Lodge of
the Southern Western Ghats in India

view across the fields Host: Rajesh George

When: anytime

Where: here

Length of stay: any length

Minimum number of guests: 1

Languages: English

Fee: US$65 per two people sharing a room, or $32.50 per head. The rates are inclusive of all 3 meals. The on-farm tour of our operations, and walkabouts in the farm and surrounding regions, with interpretation of the cultural landscape and regional ecology, are part of our stay program -- not extra cost. Bringing in a birding expert will cost about $40 per day that he is there, plus the cost of bringing him in and sending him back, if he is not able to come and go with the group. The cost of day trips depends on the size of the group, and the distance, and these costs are not included in the room fee.

a peaceful view ABOUT THE FARM & SURROUNDING AREA:
Govindapperi is a little village deep in the rural hinterland of Tamil Nadu. It is a typical settlement – a tightly packed cluster of houses and other buildings, defining between them the streets and urban open spaces. The farmlands of the villagers stretch away in all directions, punctuated at intervals by the ubiquitous ‘kulams’ (water-retention basins, traditionally created by earthen bunds across natural water courses). The soaring hills of the Western Ghats form a magnificent backdrop to this serene rural setting. The hill ranges of the Ghats rise abruptly from the gentle slopes a little to the west of the village.

Here the farmlands give way to open grassland with patches of scrub and scattered trees, quickly changing to dry woodland as one climbs the slopes. Just where the wooded slopes of the hills descend into the open plains lies our farmstead - Mayuram. The farm is spread over 350 acres of what was once degraded and denuded grassland. The lands were severely over-grazed, and prone to periodic fires. What few straggly trees survived the cattle and the fires were lopped for firewood and fodder. When the lands were bought in 1993, the vegetation was sparse, with prominent bare patches of raw, compacted soil. The seasonal strong winds would lift off a layer of soil and dust each year from the unprotected earth. Almost ten years of protection and nurturing have now gone into restoring and re-vegetating these ravaged lands.

Today the farmstead is developing into a healthy grassland - open woodland eco-system through an integrated system of restoration and management practices. Ecological restoration techniques are being utilized to raise woodland belts, which will eventually give structure to a silvi-horticultural system. Early controlled burns are carried out annually to keep the inter-belt areas under grassland. Vegetative cover is now complete, and wind and water erosion are non-existent. The savannah-woodland eco-system provides the ideal habitat for a huge variety of bird species. Terrestrial fauna too, have started increasing in numbers over the past few years.

bird pond The creation of such a conducive bird-habitat on the farmstead, however, is not the only reason that makes the region a birder’s paradise. The traditional farming practices of the region have created a unique cultural landscape. The region is a mosaic of open fields and occasional wooded groves, punctuated frequently by water-retention basins, large and small. The whole is criss-crossed by numerous embankments, irrigation channels and streams which are vegetated, often wooded. This results in a diversity of habitat that attracts a wide range of bird species, from aquatics and waders, to woodland species, open-field species and raptors. The proximity of myriad forest types amongst the adjoining slopes of the Western Ghats contributes further to the species diversity of the region.

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ACCOMMODATIONS:
architecture of the foothills adjoining Shenkottah is a curious mixture of the vernacular styles of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu, strongly overlaid with the influences of British colonial architecture. The buildings have the steeply pitched tile-roofs of Kerala, carried on the thick white-washed masonry walls of Tamil Nadu, the whole embellished with mouldings, cornices and column capitals of colonial origin. The lodge at Govindapperi reflects the prevailing regional architectural style in its form and detail.

The buildings of the region are essentially inward looking in nature, clustered close together as they usually are. Our farm-house, however, opens out into its setting, creating a harmonious continuation of the outdoors into the indoors.

Open transition spaces and courtyards create a seamless fusion of shelter and nature, creating a perfect unity with the tranquil setting. The verandahs on the north and south look out onto breathtaking vistas of the mountains and of the rural landscape.

The lodge has two bedrooms, each with an attached toilet, which can together accommodate four persons on a twin-sharing basis. These is also an outhouse on the premises – an ancillary structure which can house two to four persons in two rooms, with common toilet facilities.

Our interiors are Spartan, but comfortable; the emphasis is on the richness of experience, rather than on luxury. The lodge has running water, electricity and a telephone. We do have a refrigerator, but no TV or hot water (we doubt that you’ll need it anyway!)

To view a map showing the local area and to read how to reach our place from various points, click here.

birders WILDLIFE &/OR BIRDING TOURS (one to two days):

Please note that Rajesh is not a birder himself. We can help you hire a local birding guide if you wish.

TOURS OF CRAFTS WORKSHOPS (half to one day as required)

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