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The highlights are its affordable budget, awesome surroundings , home cooked authentic Kerala cuisine, easy access to the attractions of Wayanad and of course a friendly host family.

The family owns a sprawling cardamom and arcanut plantation a short jeep ride away. In the midst of this plantation is a couple secluded cottages on a scaffolded structure. Though the tariffs for these cottages are a bit height compared to the the stay at their home, the plantation stay is highly recommended.

The nights have that eerie charm and the mornings break with bird chirping.

There is even a private stream right beneath the cottages at Melvins, probably the only sound you'll here all the day and night.

They can take you a number of private tours, secluded rivers fringing the forest , plantations , treks and so on. Checkout the harvesting season of their plantation. It's and interesting time to visit. Ask for those exquisite Kerala non-veg dishes, though they cook fabulous veg dishes too.

Though it is in an isolated corner of the district it's a very child friendly place. Your kids will like splash in those shallow jungle rivulets near the cottages.

You may need some assistance to reach this place, which the host promptly does.

From Kalpetta Town take the Meppadi road that heads towards Gudalur. You'll be zigzagging through tea plantations as you reach Meppadi. After 4km from Meppadi town you'll need to take left diversion into a tea estate.

From Sulthan Battery side, take the NH212 towards Kalpetta. At about 5 km you'll reach a junction called Kolagappara. Take the left diversion (the same diversion for the Edakkal Caves too). The road will go through a ghat and in 6km you'll reach Ambalavayal town.

Cross the town and continue straight. After 8km you'll hit the Vaduvanchal junction. Leave the main road and take the right turn. In a few km you'll start seeing tea plantations. At about 9km from the Vaduvanchal junction you'll need to take a left diversion into the tea plantation to