Spread over 150 acres, in the forested hills of Wayanad in North Kerala, Vythiri is a beautiful small resort built mostly with natural materials such as mud, thatch and bamboo and as minimum use of concrete as possible. During construction, neither trees were cut-down nor any boulders removed. The resort was built to adapt to the existing foliage and terrain. Add to this two stunning tree-houses are located 60 feet off the ground and built entirely of indigenous bamboo!
While Vythiri does exude a “holiday camp” feel with enough activities to distract the entire family, its great advantage is its size and setting which means that there are always nooks and crannies to be found should you feel the need to escape. You and your family could easily spend a week here without feeling the need to go anywhere else.
Vythiri Resort is the kind of place that offers you an idyllic space for a relaxing, unchallenging holiday – a nice balance between activity and privacy. Should you ignore the delicious local cuisine and the temptation of the ayurveda spa and pool, there is plenty of outdoor adventure in the surrounding Wayanad – spice plantations, wildlife reserves with endemic animal and birdlife, and prehistoric caves.
Vythiri makes every attempt to be environmentally conscious – and has some good practices such as the bio-gas plant, solar heated water, and excellent employment practices that focus training on sustainable tourism practices in daily work. So ignore the plastic straws and forgive the diesel generator – the power supply is unreliable!
Stay
Vythiri has 2 stunning tree-houses and 38 rooms built in three different styles. All rooms conform to a singular design philosophy – using indigenous and regenerable materials and built by local tribal artisans.
The rooms are built with mud, thatch and bamboo and use minimal amounts of concrete or brickwork. They are rustic in appeal, but comfortable and tastefully done with wide balconies or private sit-outs overlooking either a rivulet or the rainforest. Rooms come well furnished using cotton fabrics in earthy colours; furnishings are in calico (famed weaves from the Malabar Coast) and comfortable en-suite bathrooms. Consistent with the theme, eco-friendly amenities are used in the rooms – we loved the terracotta jugs, bamboo light shades, and cane furniture.
There are 38 rooms in all. The Serenity Cottages (18 nos.) have spacious rooms on a higher level, overlooking the stream beneath. The Kudeeram Cottages are self-contained and ideal for families as well. The rooms are distinguished by their terracotta-tiled roof and polished red-oxide floors. Each of them has its own outdoor balcony just above the rushing stream. The Planter Retreats (6 rooms) are inspired by Kerala traditions with a sit-out and private plunge pool. And there are Vythiri Habitat Rooms, with similar interiors to the Serenity Cottages – a block of 4 rooms, two on an upper level and 2 on the lower level – ideal for small groups or large families. If you want to get a little more luxury, try the Vythiri Haven rooms which are to become operational by end-November 2009. The rooms have a separate bedroom, sitting room, ensuite bathroom, and a lovely balcony which overlooks a stream.
But what make staying at Vythiri special are the two new tree-houses. Each is located about 60 feet above the ground and are inspired on the erumadams, the original tree huts built by tribal communities to track down wild animals as well as stay safe from predators. The tree-houses are built entirely of timber and bamboo – entirely bio-degradable and regenerable as well. Bedrooms come with attached bathrooms and hot water! One tree-house is accessed by an ingenious crane lift that works using water barrels as a counterweight. The other tree-house is accessed by wooden steps. The views from the top are lovely – an unending carpet of rainforest canopy lies below. Children under twelve years are not permitted to stay in the tree-house, and there are many other restrictions such as light baggage, and smoking and food are not permitted. The tree-houses are located in proximity to the main resort, but the resort offers free transfers.
Dine
The restaurant offers lunches that are typical local Kerala-style cooking using a blend of mild spices and coconut milk – mouth-watering, yet gentle on the stomach. A typical Kerala meal at Vythiri includes white boiled rice with various vegetable side dishes such as pachadi (a mixture of yoghurt and chopped salad vegetables with a spicy dressing), or avial (mixed vegetables and drumstick in a coconut gravy). All this is poured over by hot ladle-fulls of sambhar (a spicy lentil curry), and crisp, crunchypappadoms. This is served on a tender green banana leaf. One of the local meat favourites is themalabar chicken curry or a mangalorean fish curry accompanied by fluffy appams (rice pancakes steamed on the inside of a deep wok) This is followed by a thick syrupy payasam (rice pudding flavoured with cardamom).
Breakfast consists of both continental European fare or a Kerala style breakfast. Local morning food includes puttu, white rice flour dough steamed in a bamboo stalk, served with kadala (peas curry). Other favourites are idlis (rice cakes) or dosas (rice and lentil pancakes).
Dinners tend to be buffets with a variety of cuisines put together to meet the diverse guest profile of the resort.
Pamper yourself with an Ayurvedic rejuvenation massage at the Vythiri Spa.
Take a full-day trip to interesting places in and around Wayanad like the prehistoric caves at Edakkal, the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, other nature reserves, waterfalls, historic relics and ancient temples.
Experience local dance and music by the poolside – tribal dances by members of the local community and martial arts displays by groups from other parts of Kerala.
Go on jungle treks with a resort nature guide – and see some of the endemic flora and fauna of the region – giant Malabar squirrels, lion-tailed macaques, and a plethora of birds and butterflies.
Stay in and get some vigorous exercise – play basketball with other guests, hit the tennis courts, or sweat it out in the gym. If it is raining, play a game of billiards or some table-tennis.
With 3 rivers that flow plentifully nearby, Vythiri is a little lax with water management. They have no waste water management or grey water recycling and they have an in-house laundry system that washes all the linen and towels (all cotton) everyday whether you want them to or not. However, the spirit of Vythiri is certainly Green. Instead of electricity they are powered by a generator and solar water heating. They also have a biogas plant to generate fuel. Kitchen waste is collected daily and taken to a nearby pig farm. All material – recyclable and non-recyclable is collected and either properly disposed of, or sold to scrap collectors. They use local products (tiles, wood, bamboo, thatch, and brick) and have a low tolerance for synthetic products. Even the cottages are painted in mud paint (no varnish) and coated with cashew oil. Bathroom amenities are provided – toothbrush, soap, shampoo, and moisturizer – which are recycled and refilled.
The food is purchased everyday from the local market, and the tribal community from the area are employed for building and cultural functions. Most of the staff is also local – coming from Cannanore, Kozikhode and Wayanad. Women are predominantly hired for the Spa. Even the taxi driver community are kept well-fed by the constant flow of Vythiri guests.
The philosophy of construction was to adapt and leverage the design to existing natural features – so boulders often find place in rooms and no trees were cut down. In addition, the focus was on using natural regenerable materials such as mud, thatch and bamboo. The tree-houses are built entirely of local materials and designed by tribal artisans.
While Vythiri doesn’t press a “Go Green” motto on their guests, their staff is certainly well-trained in the virtues of sustainable and responsible tourism. The training period is intensive – about 10-12 months. The staff receives food and accommodation, uniforms, shoes, and recreation rooms, and certainly seem to be happy there because 80% of them have completed their 10th year.
What’s Hot!
- Excellent eco-credentials that is both beautiful and consistent through out the resort – both in building design and in-room amenities by using indigenous natural materials.
- Stay in two stunning tree-houses located one hundred feet above the ground at the top of the rainforest canopy – all built by local tribal artisans using natural regenerable materials.
- Caters to a diverse audience – good if you are a group of friends with different interests.
- Excellent spa – perfect for unwinding, getting pampered and rejuvenation.
- Centrally located in the Wayanad – excellent place to be based to see the key highlights.
What’s Not!
- A ‘holiday camp’ feel at times, because of the presence of different types of guests – corporate get-togethers, families on vacation, and couples on a romantic getaway – all at the same time!
- Use of a diesel generator is a bit off-putting, but can’t be helped.
Ideal For Whom
All kinds of travellers are bound to enjoy the stay here, since it has facilities that cater to all kinds of people – single travellers, couples, and families with children. Although it is adventure and outdoor oriented, people who would like to just relax can also have a wonderful time here owing to the pool, recreational facilities, and Ayurvedic spa.
When To Visit
Wayanad enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year – temperatures range between 29º C and 18º C.
Vythiri is good to visit almost anytime during the year particularly from October – March, when the days are clear and cool, and the nights are crisp and dry.
April & May tend to get a little sticky, but the weather remains dry. You do have to contend with the school holiday season in India, though.
During the southwest monsoon between June-September, it gets very wet in the Wayanad and the humidity could jump to 95% at midday. This means that mornings and evenings will be cool and misty, while it steams up during the day. Expect to remain indoors most afternoons when it is pouring – ideal if you are a couple looking to spend time with each other. This is also the quiet time of year, so if you want to avoid crowds, it does not get better than this.
How Many Days
Two nights make for an ideal stopover if you are driving enroute from Bangalore or Mysore to Cochin. This lets you get some rest and relaxation, and also visit some of the key highlights of the Wayanad.
Three nights would be ideal to enjoy the facilities within the resort as well as to visit some of the local sights of the Wayanad, and perhaps even take in the spa. Add one or two extra nights to do some of the short treks in the surrounding forest, or get in some serious birdwatching. And the spa offers a range of Ayurvedic wellness treatments ranging from one to two weeks.
Things To Bring
Bring a good pair of walking shoes for outdoor visits and the nature walks. Also carry a strong mosquito repellent – you are in the tropics, and the Wayanad is largely tropical rainforest. If you are visiting in the rains and planning to getting off the beaten path and doing some nature walks, then leech socks are a good idea! Light cotton clothing in natural earth colours is a good idea – shorts and t-shirts are fine, but as always in India, dress modestly as a rule. Don’t forget a swimsuit for the pool! And its’ always a good idea to bring a good book for those quiet times in the early mornings or lazy afternoons.
By Air
For domestic flights, the nearest airport is Calicut (85 km). If you are taking an International flight, we recommend you to hit Chennai, since the airport there caters to almost all carriers around the world. The next best would be the Bangalore International airport. From either of these places, you can take a domestic flight to Calicut and drive down from there. From Calicut, it the Thamarassery route, further down there is Vythiri.
By Rail
If you plan to experience the train journey, the nearest rail stop is Mysore (150 km), from where you will have to drive down. Take the road that connects Mysore, through Gundelpet – Sultan Bathery – Kalpetta to Vythiri. Drive time is around 3hrs.
