Mountain Villa - Planters Cottage

Nature and nothing Else - Nestled in five acres of private virgin forest on a remote mountain top, the property borders Kurushumala Ashram estate on one side and overlooks the lush green valleys with a beautiful bird's eye view of 5 districts of Kerala. The serenity here will help relax your mind, body and soul. We have created this haven of peace and tranquillity to resonate with the harmony of the earth, the trees, birds, stars and the blue sky. Back to nature, back to basics. Perched high on the mountains with breathtaking views across valleys, you will enjoy nature at its best. We currently have three cottages. These earth cottages are indigenously built by native craftsmen. While continuing to preserve its heritage, this sixty year old labour shed has been renovated and restored in the theme and décor of a quaint Planters Cottage. This cottage offers maximum privacy and is around 300 meters away from the common areas We pride ourselves as an ecologically conscious, Carbon Neutral vacation spot, away from the human hustle. We believe in responsible tourism that is a transformative force which has the power to revitalize local communities, create jobs and safeguard destinations for generations to come. Few of our initiatives include employment of locals, 100% generation of renewable energy through Solar and Wind, Organic farming, local sourcing, avoidance of single use plastic and being respectful to the surrounding flora & fauna. Guests will have free access to the entire five acre of virgin forest land. There are trekking trails around the property and if you are the adventure kind, explore the longer trails going into the valley below. Day trips can be organized if informed in advance. This is a peaceful and quiet estate. Please respect the environment and the people around. Please no smoking indoors. We (Sunitha & Alex) currently live in Mumbai, but make frequent visits to our abode which we are building with so much passion. We are always available on phone. Our friendly & experienced Manager, Abel is available at site for interactions and he is highly knowledgeable about the place and can help you with any of your requirements Vagamon is well known as 'Scotland of India' which is situated in the border of Kottayam- Idukki district and located in 1100 meters from sea level .The way to Vagamon is surrounded by solid rock lined with pine forests. Vagamon hill station is comprised of a beautiful series of hillocks, valleys and cascading waterfalls that make it the ideal getaway for tourists. The hill station in Vagamon is comprised of 3 beautiful hill cluster broadly called as Thangal hill, Murugan hill and Kurismala. The atmosphere of Vagamon is covered with misty climate with the temperature between 10 to 23 C during summer season. Vagamon has its distinction for trekking, paragliding, mountaineering and rock climbing. Travelling through the hill highway covered in deep valley gives you a thrilling experience with a glorious visualization of nature. Major attractions in this region are Kurishumala 'Mountain of the holy cross', Kurishumala monastery, Vagamon Meadows (The rolling green meadows of Vagamon), Indo-Swiss Project Diary Farms, Pine Forests, Mooppanpara (a v-shaped canyon) and Paragliding and Paragliding Festival which is conducted once in every year for adventures. National Geographic Traveler has listed Vagamon on their directory of the '50 most attractive places to visit in India. Local sight seeing tours can be arranged on request. Vagamon is 125 km from the Cochin international airport (2.5 hrs. by car) and 60 km from Kottayam railway station (1 hr. by car) Mountain Villa is situated close to 3 Km from the state highway at Vazhikadavu junction at Vagamon. The last 2.5 Km to the property is hard terrain suitable for a beautiful 45 minutes trek through the mountain road or one needs to use a SUV with a four wheel drive. Jeep can be arranged on advance notice and safe parking can be organized for the guest's vehicle and Driver’s accommodation if required can be arranged in a local lodge. IMPORTANT: We are completely Off-Grid and the nearest civilization is 2 km away - We harness green energy through Solar and windmill, there's no TV and a very weak mobile telephone network. We use filtered water siphoned from the mountain springs and grow vegetables organically. However due to need arising out of work from anywhere, we have now managed to get broadband to the property and hence will be able to provide Wi-Fi. We can only offer minimal amenities to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible. Care has been taken to build only the basic necessities in an eco-friendly manner without disturbing the flora and fauna around. You may spot insects, lizards, leeches, bees, toads etc. around the property and hope you’re cool about it. Treat the Natural environment and surroundings with utmost respect because you are a guest at her home and not the other way around. Since there are no restaurants or shops nearby, please do not forget to shop for your basic necessities like medicines, munchies from the nearest town before you arrive for your entire duration of stay. Please ask for our menu card in advance and our private chef will cook traditional Kerala dishes for you. Our Manager Abel will be available for any assistance at the property and we’re just a call away!! Hope you will have a great stay at Mountain Villa