good for you

There's no denying that Indian food really gets the tastebuds going. So what better way to experience the country than through its cuisine?

At this quiet, eco hideaway in Muvattupuzha, Eastern Kerala the emphasis is very much on experiencing the sights, sounds and tastes of the region.

Set within a coconut and spice farm that practices sustainable agriculture, are a handful of bungalows and a family-run farm that is open to visitors as both a B&B and as a cookery school.

The four cottages are named 'The Pimenta' and offer simple yet homely accommodation. In any case, the rooms are of little importance as you'll probably spend most of your time in the kitchen taking part in one of the vegetarian cooking courses that are regularly held here.

Alternatively you might opt to join in one of the daily cooking demonstrations. But whatever way you choose to enjoy Haritha Farms, expect to come away at least a couple of kilos heavier.

good for india

Haritha farms have been pioneers in the field of eco-agro tourism in South India. Originally established as a rubber and coconut garden in 1962, sustainable farming techniques were introduced in 1990 and the use of pesticides was halted. By 1993 the rubber trees had been removed and the spices, food and fruits that had originally been grown in the region were replanted.

Haritha Farms aims to develop a role model for economically viable eco farming in the region. They wish to return to the traditional farming system which was once the backbone of Keralan agriculture and ecology.

By demonstrating sustainable farming practices and promoting traditional Keralan cuisine, Haritha Farms are helping to protect the area's history and heritage.

Rooms

Food

Food is very much the focus of Haritha Farms and even if you choose not to take part in one of the cooking courses, you will be well fed during your time here.

Indian and Eastern Kerala dishes are served up here using spices and produce grown on the farm. The food is tasty, healthy and vegetarian.

Kerala has a distinctive cuisine that's very different from the rest of India. It uses a lot of coconut, exotic tropical fruits, vegetables, cereals and spices. It's a holistic cuisine that follows the tenets of Ayurveda - mildly flavoured, gently cooked and not harsh on the stomach! Two of Kerala's favourite dishes are made from slightly fermented dhal and rice, steamed dumplings called Idlis and thin crisp pancakes called Dosas.

Facilities for making your own coffee (even the coffee beans are home grown), tea and fresh lime soda are available in the communal area as are seasonal tropical fruits and filtered drinking water.

Features & Facilities

• Restaurant
• Cookery school
• Organic farm
• Ayurvedic treatments
• Local discovery walks and excursions to the area

See Local Info for more information

Local Info & Activities

When you're not cooking up a storm there's plenty to do in the surrounding areas, these include:

tours

Explore the working rubber plantations, pineapple groves and rice fields. Take a trek through the local hills with a guide and enjoy the spectacular views or choose to explore the neighbouring villages.

forest garden tours

Learn about sustainable farming methods with a tour courtesy of your hosts through the forest garden.

truck painting

Witness this Kerala tradition at the local truck painting centre - it's considered an art form.

ayurvedic treatments

Your hosts can arrange for ayurvedic treatments to be carried out in traditional centres under the guidance of qualified Ayurvedic doctors.

cooking demonstrations

Cooking demonstrations are held every evening at Haritha Farms and usually involve three different recipes.

Other activities include swimming the river, discovering the local flora and fauna, picnics to waterfalls and visits to an elephant training centre. Your hosts can also help organise tours to tea gardens, handicraft shops, temples (including festivals from November to May) and churches.

Sustainability

The property is owned and managed by a local family. The local community benefits economically from Haritha Farms but guests' numbers are limited so that the village taken over by tourism, or dependent on tourism alone.

The Midlands of Kerala is the place where spices, food and fruits were naturally grown in homestead forest gardens that were eventually lost to rubber plantations. Spices were moved up to the hills where the forests were cut and plantations were established, thereby damaging the ecosystems in a significant way (monoculture plantations e.g. tea, coffee, pepper and rubber).

Haritha Farms are making an effort to bring back the glory of the Midlands by establishing a homestead forest garden (bio organic farming) and growing spices in their natural habitat. This is quite different and environmentally more aware than growing spices and crops in the cleared forest ranges in the mountains or the dense mangrove forests in the backwaters as a monoculture.

No chemicals and fertilisers are used in the farming and minimum tillage is practiced.

They are also trying to conserve the bio diversity of the region by raising lots of medicinal herbs in the garden itself, a self-financed economically viable conservation initiative by the family in the region.

Haritha Farms use solar power for water heating, bio gas for cooking, energy efficient wood stoves and drying equipments, low energy bulbs in the rooms and outside, minimal use of concrete, hedges for fencing instead of walls and grow bamboo for use on the farm. A number of water conservation practices are in place including composting and mulching on the farm.

As part of the conservation activity, Haritha Farms also works to preserve the recipes of the region and use them on a day-to-day basis which helps sustain the diverse food traditions of the region.

All revenue is ploughed back into the farmstay, and all the products and services are locally sourced thereby benefiting the local community.

Getting There

Haritha Farms is situated near Kadalikad, on the road linking Muvattupuzha to Thodupuzha in Eastern Kerala. The farm is 300 metres west of the Kadalikad bus stop.

by train

Ernakulam Junction is the train station 55km north of Haritha Farms. Kottayam railway station lies 65km south of Haritha Farms.

by air

Haritha Farms is 50km (1hr drive) from Cochin airport.

by bus

Muvattupuzha is the closest town if you are coming from Ernakulam,

Kottayam, Alleppey, Thrissur and Calicut. If you are coming from Periyar the

closest town is Thodupuzha@. You want to get off at the Kadalikad bus stop.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

Prices are in US Dollars ($) per night and include accommodation, three meals a day and filtered or bottled drinking water.

full board accommodation

Double $99 - 118

Single $74 - 89

Extra person $50 - 59

packages

three day kerala surprise

Day One: Arrival - A tuk tuk tour of the region to have an understanding of what the midlands look like. An introduction to Keralan spices and herbs and other medicinal

plants, how they are grown, as well as their use in cooking and in home remedies.

Day Two: Visit to the Elephant training centre, Old Syrian Christian church and local temples. In the afternoon visit a truck painting centre and explore the village around the farm.

Day Three: Another short trip of the region after breakfast and an Ayurveda massage in a traditional Ayurveda Centre near the farm in the afternoon

Day Four: Breakfast and farewell

price

Double $558 for two people, sharing a double room

Single $470 for one person occupying a double room

five day kerala delight

Day One: Arrival - A tuk tuk tour of the region to have an understanding how

midlands look like. An introduction to Keralan spices and herbs and other medicinal plants and how they are grown as well as use of it in cooking and home remedies.

Day Two: Visit to the Elephant training centre, Old Syrian Christian church and local temples. In the afternoon visit a truck painting centre and explore the village around the farm.

Day Three: Ayurveda massage in a traditional Ayurveda Centre near the farm.

Day Four: Visit to a tea plantation in the morning, and shopping in the small town in

the afternoon or/ half-day backwater tour and afternoon shopping.

Day Five: Keralan cooking lessons

Day Six: Breakfast and farewell

price

Double $892 for two people sharing a double room

Single $768 for one person occupying a double room

terms & conditions

• These rates are valid until 31/05/08
• Rates include accommodation, three meals, soft drinks, tea and coffee.
• Two night minimum stay recommended.

booking & cancelation policy

• A 20% deposit is required to confirm the reservation.
• The balance is payable at time of stay
• Cancellations made at any time will incur a cancellation fee of 10%.
• Cancellations made nearer the time of arrival will incur further cancellation fees. Full cancellation information will be provided before a booking is confirmed.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.