About the Homestay

  • Welcomes
  • Males
  • Females
  • Couples
  • Families
  • Students

We are a German-Indian family happily living on our 12 acre organic farm in a semi-rural area of Kerala between the sea and the mountains, we grow coconut ,bananas, mangoes , vegetables and cultivate rice; a part of our compound is forest. We have cows, hen, peacocks, cats and dogs. We run on solar and cook with biogas. Our delicious, mostly vegetarian, Kerala dishes are made of the good stuff from our farm. Our living house is an outhouse of the former landlord, and at 50 steps distance is that charming cottage for guests, where they have their privacy and still are near to the life of the place.
It’s an one room (24sqm), 2 spacious Verandas, kitchenette and open bathroom cottage, built in the traditional Kerala style, windows opening to all four sides to allow the breeze go through, equipped with old wooden furniture, very good mattresses, hand printed textiles, mosquitonet, fans, a kitchenette with coffee/tea cooking facility, fridge, hot water for a bath under the sky.
-A reliable fast internet connection is in the cottage
-We rent out our scooters if you daringly want to explore the surroundings on a two wheeler (RS 1200,-/day, 1 full tank petrol incl.)
-We keep our premises super clean and hygienic.

ON OUR COMPOUND:

-Feel free to roam around and explore every hook and corner of our place
-See how many varieties of birds you can discover
-Watch the agricultural works of the season going on and wonder how things still are being done
-Follow the process of making oil, flour and pickles
- Feed the cow or the calf
-Linger on in the kitchen and maybe learn how to prepare one or two (or more) Kerala food items
-Take a swim in the pond (seasonal)
-Swing in the hammock and read a good book (comprehensive library in the house)
-Dare to communicate with the local people through gestures, mime and smiles
-We have a good Ayurveda massage lady coming to our house on request
-Try to wear a sari and let our “girls” help you, giggling
-Do what you like
-Do nothing

LEAVING OUR COMPOUND:
-Take a walk through the paddy fields, around the temple in their midst and feel the never ceasing breeze
-Explore the village
-Bring your postcards to the post office at the village and it will be an experience
-Answer the questions of the school kids returning home, repeat to tell them your name again and again....
-If there is a marriage in our neighborhood, be sure you will be welcome
-Take a bus or rickshaw to Shoranur and see the life of a typical provincial town, up and down the main road – or move through the tightly congested tamilian colony there (6km, 20 min)
-Take an early morning or sunset walk on the banks of the Bharata Puzha, Kerala’s biggest river, feel the breeze, see the people taking bath or picnicking or performing the last rituals for their deceased ones (6km, 20 min)
-During the festival season (nov – may) you may be able to see a temple festival, a religious ritual or dance-, music- or theatre performances somewhere nearby

-We can organise a visit to Kerala Kalamandalam, the prestigious traditional school for classical dance/theater and music forms. Watch the classes going on, with a guide to explain you what your mind cannot grasp. Or without guide.
-If you are lucky in the night you may be able to attend performances in their Koothambalam (dance palace)

-On Thursdays there is a traditional cattle market in Vanyankulam (early morning hours, 6km)

-Undertake a trip to Thrissur (30km, 1hour) for shopping, to see the market or to visit the Shaktan Thamburan Palace

-Go on an excursion to Malamphuza, a dam at the foothills of the Nilgiri mountains and a favorite picnic destination of keralite families. A snake park is also there (60km/1 ½ hours)

-Visit Guruvayoor, one of the most holy temple towns in South India (entry for Non-Hindus not permitted) and watch the pilgrims, strolling through the lanes lined with religious souvenir shops. Don’t miss to visit the temples elephant camp, where the temple’s 60-70 elephants are kept (3km from Guruvayoor

-Go to the beach near Chalakudy (12 km from Guruvayoor) and watch the sun set over the Arabian sea and the fisherman coming in or going out for their catch

-A short day’s trip could go to Nelliampathy, the tiny town on top of the Western Ghats. Drive through scenic landscapes and go up straight from the plains to around 2000m height, where the plains unfold just below your feet.

There may be more interesting things going on, but very much dependent on the season and the festive calendar.......

Interaction with guests

We simply like to have guests around, and the amount of interaction very much depends on the guests, how they like it. Anyway we will provide as much information and practical support as needed, and although having our own work schedule there will always be time for chats, exchanges of ideas and laughter as we are permanently present on our compound and our ways will always cross.

The neighborhood

Even the towns in India are changing at a breathtaking speed, the countryside and it's people remain relatively untouched by this. They live their live embedded in their ancient traditions, keep their rituals and customs (with a few exceptions: mobile phones, for example), and still revolve around the nature and the seasons. They didn't learn the refined tactics and techniques of modern global life (yet)

Getting around

Anytime we can call a riksha or a taxi. Just in front of our compound is a bus stop which brings you to the next town, from where you get even long distance buses and where is a railway junction with trains heading north (up to Delhi and Rajasthan), south (Kanyakumari) and east (Chennai, Kolkatta). Transport is perfect!

Other things to note

We are hosting so different, but always interesting, guests from all over the world since 1996, and for them as well as for us it made our life richer .
A good breakfast, coffee/tea unlimited, juices, snacks and always fresh boiled water is included. Additionally we can provide lunch and dinner at reasonable rates.

Still curious? I will tell you more:

When I came to India as a (German) student, 30 years back, I fell in love with an (Indian) local guy - and still we are happy and our son is an adult now. We live the way we really want to live: close to the nature, in the middle of the luxuries of space, air, time, freedom(relatively) and the feeling, that we are lucky and happy people.
My husband runs a family bakery in the next small town, our son is into sports, I am an artist/painter and a farmer. to be by myself and for painting I have my studio, and we have around 12 acre of forest, plantation and paddy field around. I start my day with yoga and meditation, care all the works to be done, say hello to our animals, read, mostly contemporary Indian literature (so good), like to work with textiles...and when there are guests, chat a little around....I like to travel to the forests, and I like to stay or come back to one or two places: to be able to understand more comprehensive, more deep all what is there to understand- but mostly I love to stay in my place, and still, after 25 years of being here, there is so much more to discover, to learn, to understand. We like to share our place and all what it means, the mood and spirit of the place as well as all we have learnt and by now know after so many years of continuous inter-cultural "studies", we like to show or talk about and simply make guests have a wonderful time with as much or as less contact or interaction as they want to have and our schedule allows.......
Our place is run with the help of a few local women and sometimes men who are with us since ever, and we are a kind of community, or family, all spending a significant time of our lives together, knowing each other so well.
We live our life with joy (not always, but mostly) and we like to have guests, simply.

My Pets

Cat, Dog

Bedrooms available for booking

Minimum stay is for 2 nights

Maximum stay is for 359 nights

Available for given dates

Long stay? If you have a reoccuring schedule where days in the week do not require accommodation, you can unselect those days below. This will inform the host and reduce the price of your stay.

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
spacious airy bed/living room, 2 Verandah, open air bathroom
From 1,666 per night
Double Room
Sleeps 2

Bathroom private (exclusive to guest)
1 Double Bed

Bedroom availableNot available for dates
Facilities
  • Desk and Lamp
  • Dresser / Drawers
  • Closet / Wardrobe
  • Bedside Locker / Nightstand
  • Mirror
  • Fridge
 1 guest
2 guests
Nightly Price
2,900
2,900
Weekly Price
14,400
16,000
Monthly price
50,000
56,000
You have selectedNightsPrice of StayBooking FeeTotal

About the Area

Anytime we can call a riksha or a taxi. Just in front of our compound is a bus stop with buses up to the next town, from where you get even long distance busses and where is a railway junction with trains heading north (up to Delhi and Rajasthan), south (Kanyakumari) and east (Chennai, Kolkatta). Transport is perfect!
Cochin airport is 100 km south from our place, Kozhikode airport 100 km north.

Local Area Facilities
  • Shopping Centre
  • Bus Stop
  • Train station
  • Hospital

Meals

Hosts can offer a complimentary light breakfast at their discretion. All other meals, including a full breakfast, might incur an additional cost, if offered. Meals and any additional payment should be arranged directly with your host.

Included in the stay
  • Complimentary Light Breakfast
  • Use of Kitchen
Available on request at an extra cost
  • Half Board
  • Full Board
  • Packed lunch
Diet Type available on request
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Lactose Intolerant
  • Nut Allergies

House Rules

As we live in a rural area with a traditional mindset, we expect our guests to dress respecting this. Means, women (sorry) should cover their shoulders and legs and not wear transparent dresses, men ...are more free to do what they like, but smoking and drinking alcohol in public places is not allowed for anybody.

Exhibiting too much affection towards the lover/partner in public should be avoided (deep kisses, for example)

Smoking Rules

Your host is a non-smoker.

Smoking is allowed outdoors only.

2 Reviews

  • Graphic avatar placeholder

    England
    Age 65 - 74

    5 hearts
    December 2019

    Susanna went out of her way to make my experience at her home stay very enjoyable. As a European who has made her life in India she has unique insights into how to show other westerners the real India. The food was good, the library was excellent, the surroundings were peaceful and her rescued animals were a delight.

  • Picture?ss=bah7cekicgdpzay6bkvussinz2lkoi8vahn0l0f2yxrhci8ymzcymti zxhwaxjlc19pbgy7afrjigxwdxjwb3nlbjsavekidgrlzmf1bhqgowbussipzxhwaxjlc19hday7afqw  d9b5db8e80736bc78460f64f2a72b229b434e75b&style=small

    India
    Age 45 - 54

    5 hearts
    July 2018

    Susanne is an amazing host and the property is awesome. She always made sure that all my needs were met. The peacocks roaming in the property was an amazing sight. The food, mostly with home grown vegetables was very tasty too. Overall it was a wonderful stay.

    Host reply
    Homestay Host Family Susanne in ,

    Thanks a lot!

How do I book?

Contact the host to check their availability and ask them any questions you have about staying with them. Once the host confirms they’re available for your dates, you can complete your booking.

When do I pay?

Once a host confirms they're available, you can go ahead and pay the 15% booking fee (maximum of 250 $£€ for longer term bookings) using a choice of payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Laser, JCB & PayPal (not available in certain countries). You then pay your host on arrival or as stated by your host on their profile and agreed by you on booking. Please be cautious if a host requests advance payment if its not included on their profile. Our hosts have been advised that if they wish to request advance payment they must make this explicit in their profile. We do not recommend the use of Money gram or Western Union.

When can I share my contact details?

Host and Guest email address, phone number and home address will be exchanged in a confirmation email sent to both immediately after a booking is completed. It's against our policy for Guests and Hosts to exchange direct contact details via our messaging system.

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