A Cute Natural Farmhouse at Kanthalloor
- Anagha Anil
- Mar 21
- 3 min read
As a family that loves monthly getaways to hill stations and tiger reserves, being split apart for educational and career purposes made scheduling trips difficult. That meant every family reunion involved packing and setting out to the road.
This time, we accepted a long-due invitation from my dad's childhood friend to visit his farm resort at Kanthalloor–Escape Natural Farm. True to its name, it is an escape from the traffic and smoke of cities to the fresh cool air of the hills.
We had lunch en route and reached our destination around 2 to 3 pm. Close to the parking area is one of the three fantastic accommodations provided here —the cave house. This consists of two huge rooms carved inside caves. A review aptly calls it a blend of rustic charm and modern amenities.
Beside the cave house, you find stone steps leading to the dining area, the Wood House, and the Treehouse. Walking up along this path, you find different varieties of fruit trees. For many in our generation, seeing fruits on trees is rare. We are more accustomed to finding them in supermarkets and God knows how real those are with all the chemicals that go into it. To our delight, all the fruits and vegetables grown on this farm are organic and free for our plucking.
Our accommodation in the farmhouse was a cute log house with a campfire site beside it. What intrigued me the most was how aesthetically and sustainably they utilized the space. Recycled and locally available materials served functional as well as decorative purposes. The benches outside the cottages and the furniture in the dining area were made of wood of different shapes and sizes. Used bottles were beautifully painted on and used as flower vases. Even the curtain rails were covered with wood to finish off the cozy cabin style. Carefully selected wildlife picture frames adorned the interior walls.
After initial introductions between the two families, our wonderful hosts took us on a tour of the entire premises. The variety of fruits, berries, and vegetables grown there include oranges, mosambis, peaches, blackberries, guavas, passion fruits, pressure tomatoes, and more. There is no count for the number of oranges, guavas, and mosambis we ate and carried back to our room. The real stuff tastes different from the market-bought gimmicks and is way more filling! Munching on fruits and breathing in the fresh mountain air rejuvenated both body and soul.
After a hot cup of coffee and yummy snacks, we went in to take rest till dinner time. Meanwhile, I also got some work done, thanks to free Wi-Fi. The dining area is another highlight of the place. Words fall short to describe its beauty, I feel the picture will capture it. Its so damn cute!
We had a delicious dinner in the wonderful ambiance of soft acoustic music and warm lighting. After the other guests retired for the night, our hosts joined us. With anecdotes of childhood pranks and jokes, nostalgic memories kept us awake past our usual bedtime.
The next day, we had a Kerala-style breakfast of Puttu, Kadala, Idli, Chutney, Sambar, and more coffee. Conversation flowed as easily as the previous day and so did time. We said goodbyes and left for home later than planned, but with fruits to share and memories to relish with family and friends.
For more details, reach out to Escape Natural Farm :
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