Rural Stay Sharavathy

"I can smell the fresh air - the quiet is so calming. They had akki rotti's for breakfast and went on a short walk into the fields after that. Feels so healthy! Life here is removed from the rat race of the city. I am not saying that life comes easy here, but I feel they are so better equipped to handle the ups and downs in life as their yardstick for measurement is their own and not a neighbor. I want to come back to experience this contentment."

These are rural experiences for the discerning outdoor traveler willing to stay and experience life and lifestyle in Malnad. Western Ghats Eco Escapes has tied up with marginal farmers in remote corners of the Sharavathy and supplemented infrastructure in their homes - i.e. clean tiled western closet toilets, a room. We have also trained the local family in food and hospitality needs. Travelers stay with these families, eat home-cooked food, walk around the village side, do short trips to sightseeing locations around, play in the streams nearby and soak up on the green! It’s just the home, forests, fields and you!

They currently have 3 rural stays - one at Nandigodu and two at Hebbenkeri (deep inside the Sharavathy Valley Wildlife Sanctuary). Both are in the vicinity of Jog falls. Besides Jog there are many other places to visit.

Experience rural life, livelihood and hospitality at Nandigodu at Gangadhar's home. Fondly called Ganganna he is a subsistence farmer, living in his ancestral home, surrounded by paddy fields, natural forest and arecanut plantations. What's more it's resplendent with heritage of over a century. Live rural life true style with simple vegetarian food, farming, short village walks, help in the kitchen (cook on firewood), frolic in the nearby stream or drive out to Jog falls, Keladi, Ikkeri, Holebagilu and other places.

Accommodation
1 room with an attached bathroom and another large living area below the roof that accommodates about 8 floor beds with a separate bathroom/ toilet. Comfortable & clean mattresses, pillows, blankets & bed-sheets will be provided; guests may bring in additional warm blankets if they wish.

Dining
Simple vegetarian food (breakfast, lunch, tea-time snack & dinner); mostly local cuisine. Non-vegetarian barbeque on prior notice.

Transport
Transportation has been included by a rugged 4 wheel drive jeep. If guests wish to travel in more comfortable transport, the same will be charged at actual cost.
 
Possible activities

• Farming, plantation walks, walk around the village
• Visits to Charakha (culture center to see dying and weaving of fabric), Ikkeri, Keladi, Chandragutti, Banavasi temples, Holebagilu (to experience crossing the river in a ferry)
• Be part of rural life: participate in firewood collection, cooking on firewood, introduction to rural art, listen to folk songs etc.
• Visit a sacred grove near Yelkundli (25kms)
• Understand rural life, the way the community works
• Visit to Jog Falls and other nearby hidden waterfalls
• On special request (at an additional cost): Dollu Kunitha and Kollata performances
• Cycle in the backcountry (cycles can be hired at an extra cost – on per day basis)
• Other optional activities: Bird-watching, escorted trips to Goodana Gundi waterfalls (45kms), and Gundavi Bird Sanctuary(45kms)

A valley to its own - Hebbenkeri is located deep within the Sharavathy Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. The approach to this hamlet is rugged - the last 3kms is a 4 wheel drive route or a freshening downhill trek on a mud track. On reaching this terraced hamlet, you have two options of staying either with Lakshman Naik or Ramchandra Naik - both marginal farmers on either side of the terraced slopes separated by a gushing stream in between. The distance between both these is about a kilometer on undulated terrain. About 2kms away is Kanoor Kote - a military fort Rani Chennabhairadevi completely camouflaged by the forests. She was also called the Pepper Queen - which means the forests are full of wild pepper and spice.

Accommodation
1 room with an attached bathroom in two homes. Comfortable & clean mattresses, pillows, blankets & bed-sheets will be provided; guests may bring in additional warm blankets if they wish.

Dining
Vegetarian food (breakfast, lunch, tea-time snack & dinner); mostly local cuisine. Non-vegetarian barbeque on prior notice.

Transport
Transportation has been included by a rugged 4 wheel drive jeep. If guests wish to travel in more comfortable transport, the same will be charged at actual.

Possible activities

• Farming, plantation walks, walk around the village
• Short trek to Kanoor Kote (approx 2kms)
• Be part of rural life: participate in firewood collection, cooking on firewood, introduction to rural art, listen to folk songs etc.
• On special request (at an additional cost): Dollu Kunitha and Kollata performances
• Visit to Dabbe falls - a hidden waterfall about 40 minutes away (please note the last 1km is a tricky descent on foot)
• Visit Bhemeshwar temple - an ancient temple that overlooks a vast valley
• Understand rural life, the way the community works
• Interact with a Chittara artist (a native art form of the area)
• Visit to Jog falls (35kms)
• Cycle in the backcountry (cycles can be hired at an extra cost - on per day basis)
• Other optional activities: Bird-watching, escorted trips to Goodana Gundi waterfalls

The various sites to visit within a 30-50 km radius of the rural stays include -

Ancient temples at Keladi and Ikkeri
Built by the erstwhile rulers of the region - the Keladi kings, the temples are nearly 500 years old and have intricate carving in stone and wood. Invaded by the Muslim rulers, what one sees are remains/partially damaged marvels in stone architecture.

Bheemeshwar
An ancient temple that overlooks the tall Govardhanagiri ranges, Bheemeshwar is remote and little known. Having survived years of torment in rain and shine, the temple stands in solitude surrounded by lush green jungle in all directions. Perched on a narrow ledge, for about six months a year, it has a cascading waterfall for company.

Kanoor Kote
An ancient military fort of the Pepper queen (Rani Channabhairadevi) who ruled the area - its strategic location on a cliff made it indomitable in its prime. With Gersoppa as her capital, the queen grew famous as she traded spices from the tropical jungle (cinnamon, pepper etc.) in exchange for weapons with the early Portuguese traders. Now in ruins, the fort is an intriguing visit.

Charakha center at Heggodu
A rural enterprise, Charakha is a women's cooperative that has changed the lives of hundreds of young women in the Heggodu region. Here, they weave cotton yarn into fabric, dye them with natural dyes (from cinnamon, banana, boiled arecanut waste etc.). Further the fabric is stitched or embroidered or hand block printed. The final product is up for sale in many retail outlets in Bangalore (called DESI). Shop at a small field selling kiosk at Heggodu and pick up a locally made souvenir!

Jain Basdi's at Haduvalli and Gersoppa
Many Jain Basdi's dot the forests of the Sharavathy valley. With a sizeable Jain population, the ruins are important hallmarks of a flourishing Jain kingdom between the 14th and 15th century. 

Jog falls
Asia's second largest waterfall, Jog is a stunning landscape of rock, water and forest. During season (mainly the monsoon months), witness the Sharavathy dive down about 900 feet in four channel (Raja, Rani, Rocket and Roarer) forming a spectacular waterfall.

Located in the Sharavathy region - the rural stays are in and around Sagar taluk. One of them is located in Nandigodu (which is 12 kms from Sagar town). The other two are in Hebbenkeri, about 48kms from Sagar, about 18kms off the Kargal - Kogar road. In the monsoon months, guests are adviced to park their vehicles and travel the last stretch of 4km mud road by a four wheel jeep as the terrain does get a bit treacherous.