In India, a guest is considered as God (Athithi Devo Bhava) and it is still believed and practiced to a large extent. The generosity and culture of treating a guest like God is something unique to the Indian way of life.
In Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Sakleshpur – The coffee belts of Karnataka, home stays have become a great success. The concept of home stays took shape a couple of years ago in hilly regions with plantations. Initially, the guests were given rooms by the locals at their homes to get an alternative income, which later, became a means of employment to hundreds of families, particularly women in the plantation communities of Kodagu, Hassan (Sakleshpur) Chikmagalur districts.
This very concept of home stays, which did not do well initially, gives a peek into Planters World, their rich heritage, unique cultural habits, food and hospitality . Guests are treated with local cuisines, mostly grown within ones own farms and plantations. Also are served with locally grown orange, butter fruit, jack fruits and forest fruits.
Peaks, Valleys, waterfalls, rafting , picnic spots, Heritage visits are some of the options to explore. Visitors – who wish, are taken around coffee, tea and spice plantations to educate them on cultivation, harvesting and processing. IT and business crowds, normally are a stressed lot and it would be a great unwinding experience to soak in the nature at its best. These interactions between the two different worlds often leads to renewed outlook towards life.
Covered with dense forests and rivers in silvery streams originate from the mountains of this region. The terrain being amazingly beautiful is very diverse and offers great explorations for the nature lover. Hills stations, gloriously cascading waterfalls, winding trails leading up to nowhere and then suddenly opening up to spectacular sights, shrines to explore, and intensely green slopes adorned by small coffee plantations visitors have an endless list of things to do whilst visiting the fascinating town of Chikmagalur, Sakleshpur and Mudigere
Each homestay is different, and each one is different in each season. There is lots of farming activity associated with each of the seasons and one could be part of this and witness the farm to plate experience or adventure, whatever you would want to call it.
Guest have further inspired the planters to maintain their houses well and show of the cultural practices, heritage to the world. Visitors often blog, write about their experiences and the word soon reaches rest of the world. Well then – it’s win-win isn’t it?
