If there is one place we could go back in a heartbeat, it will always be Wayanad. With long stretches of luxuriant plantations, verdant hills, magnificent waterfalls hidden inside lush forests and pristine lakes – Wayanad serves as a perfect escape from the humdrum of city life. Whether you are a couple looking for a romantic getaway, a family wanting to spend time amidst nature or a group looking for some adventure, Wayanad has something for everyone. This was our 3rd visit to Wayanad and we decided to explore it a bit differently this time by staying at the Banasura Hill Resort. Our intention was to check out the more offbeat places rather than the famous tourist attractions.
The Stay – Banasura Hill Resort
Set against the backdrop of mist-clad Banasura hill amidst the lush green surroundings, Banasura Hill Resort caught our attention instantly when I was browsing for resorts in Wayanad. And now since we have stayed here, I can surely say this place is much more than what catches the eye. With all its rooms made of mud, bamboo and coconut palm leaf roofs, this eco-resort is one of it’s kind in India. Apart from its scenic location, the resort offers unrivalled privacy, great dining experience overlooking the plantations, guided nature trails and much more. Our three days at the resort were absolute fun visiting plantations, view points and hidden streams and waterfalls. Read our full review of the resort here.
Things to do around Banasura Hill Resort
There are tons of things to keep you occupied at the resort. You can explore the huge resort premises, have fun in the swimming pool, checkout the art gallery or go for the walking tours. The walking tours are organised by the resort to the nearby points of interest most of which are the property of the resort itself. If you like certain places, you can always revisit them later at your own time.
Visit the little stream inside the forest
This one is our favourite among all the places we visited. It took us around 15 minutes to reach the stream from the resort as the path was a bit slippery due to rain. Walking by tea plantations and then a narrow road through the forest we finally reached the stream. The gurgling stream briskly flowing past the rocks and boulders and surrounded by lush greenery was such a lovely sight. The best part was we were the only people there along with another family and our guide from the hotel. Sitting on a boulder with our feet dipped in the cold stream water, we could not realise when time floated away.
Check out the view points
There are a few viewpoints in and around the resort area. One point is inside the resort compound where you need to climb a long set of steps. But the whole path is very scenic passing through plantations and shade of trees. The view point is surrounded by lush greenery and verdant mountains and is ideal for a small picnic or spending some time in total serenity. Another such view point is just beside the resort and provides lovely views of the Banasura hill as well as the valley.
Stop by the Tea and Coffee plantations
Wayanad has a vast expanse of tea, coffee and spice plantations and almost all resort or home stays have their own properties. Banasura hill resort also has a tea garden just steps away from the resort and its a perfect place for a stroll or some beautiful pictures.
Hike to the secret waterfall
Whenever we came out of our room to the outer area of the resort we heard the roaring sound of a waterfall. It felt close, yet was nowhere in the view. So we decided to take help from the resort staff and visit this secret waterfall on a rainy day. Walking on a narrow path edged by towering trees, we finally stepped in to a plantation area where the path ceased to exist. It was muddy and slippery and every step had to be carefully taken. On top of that, there were leeches everywhere. After around 20-25 minutes, When I was on the verge of giving up, the waterfall finally came in to view. The sight of a huge waterfall camouflaged with thick cover of trees and plummeting down from a great height was simply breathtaking. Since it was raining and there were a lot of leeches in the area, we could not stay there very long. But we will always be glad that we finally made it to the waterfall irrespective of all the obstacles. What an adventure it was! Read More…