Into the Roots Farm Stay

‘Into the Roots’ was an accidental find on social media. Booking sites offered better tariff than direct booking and the front office wasn’t willing to match the former’s offer. Hence we chose to book through Agoda. Journey by car from Cochin takes less than 2 hours. When Google maps declared ‘you have arrived at your destination’, we were literally looking at rocks around. A few steps beyond, there was a gate that opened to a cute, manicured property. The setting was tranquil. There were only two other guests that day and there was a meditative silence, perfect to unwind. The place is suitable to small groups too. The rooms were clean and washrooms well-equipped. The linen was of superior quality. The restaurant offers homely food in a nice ambience. Tourist spots nearby include Thattekkad bird sanctuary (11 km) and Bhoothathankettu dam (7 km). Special appreciation to Sujith managing the restaurant for his attention to details. Thanks to the restaurant team for arranging an early morning fruit bowl before we proceeded on a bird-watching trail to Thattekkad and waiting till 10:30 AM to serve breakfast (when we returned from the trail). A couple of suggestions: (i) Direction boards at some points ***** the winding roads will be of help to first-time travellers (ii) guidance on details of activities available around from the front office will be useful. Overall, a refreshing experience.

I had an exceptional stay at Into the Roots Farm Stay in Vettampara (Kothamangalam). With five years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry and having visited numerous properties across India, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter international-level quality right in my hometown. The property is impeccably maintained and beautifully constructed, with a well-trained staff. A stream flowing through the center of the property adds to the serene ambiance. From the General Manager, Jyoti, to the housekeeping staff, everyone was courteous and welcoming. This is not merely an animal farm but a fruit farm featuring a variety of fruits and Ayurvedic trees. The food was outstanding, and I was delighted to learn from the Property Manager, Jomi, that they do not use a refrigerator on-site. It was heartening to see such dedication to sustainable tourism right in our own community.

After arriving late at night, it was a treat to wake up to lush gardens, terraced hills and the sounds of nature. The grounds are charming, with a combination of 150 year old converted farmhouses and more modern, but sensitively built cottages. We booked a one bedroom cottage which was immaculately clean and tastefully decorated with stylish furniture. We particularly enjoyed sitting on the chairs and swing watching the wildlife in the sunshine. The restaurant was fantastic and overlooks the farm. We were the only ones staying so we really felt like VIPs. Both breakfast and dinner were fresh and very generous. We were treated to traditional goan dishes and the chef took the time to talk us through the ingredients he’d proudly used. You won’t leave hungry! We only had one full day for activities, so Jhoty, the incredibly organised hotel manager, scheduled a personal tour of the local eco park, which was beautiful. In addition, she organised all of our taxis and took care of everything to make our stay relaxing. To make the most of your time, plan on some early starts to explore all that’s on offer in the area! The star of the show was Binil, who was always smiling. He invited us on a walk to his favourite sunset spot and was a lovely guy to spend time with. When we returned, he’d prepared homemade lemonade for us which was ready and waiting and later, brought us tea and biscuits, which was very thoughtful! Highly recommended for couples, families, solo travellers, groups and nature lovers looking for peace, tranquility and wildlife on your doorstep!