• VISITING 900 KANDI FOREST, WAYANAD
Hey you my Supertramps.
Here’s to this post covering an amazing eco- friendly wild stay ‘Ela Blooms’ for all the travelers in the lush green beauty of an untouched rain forest , known by the name 900 Kandi Forest in Thollayiram Road, nearest to Meppadi, Wayanad , Kerala
Wayanad is the most popular tourist destination, north east of Kerala State , which is the only Kerala district that borders Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
900 Is the name of an old estate located inside the forest with a land of 900 acre. (Name Thollayiram is the Malayalam language for 900 ) Years later, the name has been stuck there , and the people named the forest itself as 900 Kandi .
900 Kandi forest looks like a territory of countless wild animals surrounded by tall old trees in the dense forest and amazing cascades and mountains of Western Ghats .
And here you go. I started my journey from Kozhikode (Calicut) district by KSRTC bus direct to Meppadi, and it hardly takes 2 (Two) amazing hours to reach Meppadi within 77 KM , the bus driver said . The journey crossing the winding roads and hairpin bend towards this Virgin Paradise was just amazingly beautiful as most of you all may know. As the Kilometers increased towards uphill, the climate changed to a freezing atmosphere with pleasant wind that plays Peekaboo with my messy hair while sitting in the window seat . As I always carry only some weightless clothes in my backpack with a dirty boots , a travel journal and myself in a messy look, all my journey gave me the very best experience without any disappointments and regrets. So the same me was patiently waiting for the magic to happen. With some usual bus journey memories that blended with dreamy foggy roads , friendly co-travelers and massive blue mountains , I reached Meppadi on time with uncontrollable excitement that chills and thrills on my way towards Ela Blooms.
As per the suggestion that I got from the host, I waited for the Kalladi- ChooralMala bus from Meppadi for sometime . And surprisingly there came a KSRTC bus towards my wild destination. I took my ticket to Kalladi, Thollayiram Road and I got to know that it’s easily accessed by taking this perfect route that goes towards Soojipara Waterfalls from Meppadi that is nearest to Kalpetta town. It crosses Kalladi Mosque and said ‘ hello’ to Meenakshi Bridge and moved into the remotest area that sounds adventurous and wilderness. Finally I reached Kalladi , the most awaited bus stop where I landed safely and happily within 30 minutes .
• OFF-ROADING THAT CHILLS AND THRILLS
Once after looking at the tiny shops , local jeeps, a fairy bridge , neighbouring forest path, listening to the sounds of water streams, I believed that this is going to be an incredible land of adventures and jungle stories .
As there is only minimum shops located in this area, I suggest you to purchase things if you want any , from Meppadi or Kalpetta itself . And as my host said, the network will be very less while going in the deep forest . So I called the property incharge suddenly once I reached Kalladi Bus stop nearest to Thollayiram entrance and within minutes Shibili , One of the Ela Bloom’s dedicated team member came with their 4*4 Off-road Jeep to start my adventurous journey. As he said, it hardly take 15 to 20 minutes to travel through the wild trail of 900 Road to reach Ela Blooms. Within a fraction of second, I jumped into the front seat of the Jeep with my backpack to experience and explore the unknown. I was damn sure that there is a wild territory waiting just for me as I enter this wildest trail. The tiny wild road seems to be more thrilling and that made me curious to ask multiple questions to Shibili until we reach our property. Unending water streams , chilling climate all over , crazy lullabies of crickets , foggy weather and plantiful landscapes was such a refreshing feeling that I could feel.
Shibili never missed a chance to make me scare while entering this deep forest. He added that, common langur, Malabar giant squirrels, Barking deer, Wild dogs , Giant Bisons , Sambar deer, Paradise flycatcher, Malabar grey hornbills are commonly sighted here while crossing the misty forest . He was such an informative human being and entertaining friend who made my journey much interesting.
After experiencing all winding off-roading drive and exploring some welcoming waterfalls and spotting the Infinity Pool from long distance , we reached Ela Blooms , The perfect wild place to Stay and Trek , as they said . Ela Blooms stay in the heights of 4612 feet and the whole Wayanad mountain ranges gave brownie points to their view point peaks with colourful high altitude visual perceptions.
• WILD PLACE TO STAY AND TREK
The spectacular destination in Wayanad-Kerala and a must visit rain forest during Winter season .
Ela Blooms 900 is an ideal destination for Monsoon Adventures ,Winter chillings and Peaceful stay mixed with extreme cold climate and downpour in the Wild.
Yay.Just listening to the lullabies of mama earth, touching the wet soil and leeches with much excitement are the things to discover here.
Stories about forests and animals , with a hot warm chai-cup from Emmanuel ,Walking through the Cascade of lullabies & backwoods with Yazeen, Jumping over the giant rocks and hills of histories, Experiencing the warmth of fire in unpredictable weather of the alluring wet Forest by the perfect host,Spotting the Flying Squirrels on the trees during the twilight ,Pattering sounds at home to stay in the la la Land will transform you into a ‘Mowgli’ for sometime.
To Feel the rainfalls touching your forehead, kissing your heart & hugging your body, Meeting new friends in the outdoors ,Discovering a whole new heavenly world Swinging on your wet finger tips.Surrender there. I swear .It's your living reflection. Stay wild.
That's 900.That was the brief experience I received from Ela Blooms.
Emmanuel ,one of the property partner introduced their property features such as it is completely eco-friendly with hydroelectric energy and Solar energy for electricity, consisting of multiple Camping tents in the woods, upto six Farm cottages,one natural cave stay, and a tree swing adjacent to a family size dining area and a private kitchen with homely meals and unlimited black tea in the misty hills of 900 Kandi.The atmosphere is all time foggy and chilled with amazing sounds of wild forests life. ‘Vellarimala’ is the huge mountain on the backyard of Ela Blooms ,which is the most attractive part of this location,that looks like Camel’s Hump , a major part of Western Ghats in Wayanad .A moon rise in the heights of Vellarimala is the cheesy experience that you should try once in the middle of the night.
After sharing all those stories of Ela Blooms,I chose my stay in the farm house for one day and tent on another day, placing my backpack and after taking a squirrel bath in hurry,I walk in rush towards the team for the wonders to happen .
They took me for a waterfall trek named as 4 acre waterfall that was very amazing and adventurous, as the rocks were slippery and forest remains moist all the time, we had a beautiful time in the wild for hours. Upto 20 minutes we walked through the forest towards the 4 acre waterfall, crossed natural caves to enter the other forest territory, jumped over the huge rocks, ran through the deep valleys, sat near the water streams that flows aimlessly, while Yazeen was sharing experiences of spotting elephants on the way that made this trek bit more scary but funny, I should say that. If you really love to take a dip in the unending streams , waterfall trek in 900 is the best option for you. And there is a pond, they call it Ela pond which holds peace and harmony to the moment, where lots of fishes still live in the glory of the forest. As Shibili said, bison with a big family used to visit their property entrance most of the time in the nights and early mornings. And luckily I spotted those big families of Bisons in the night while we went for a night drive in the jeep to spot some wild friends out there.Much lovely and spicy jungle life.
After spending some adventurous time in the deep jungle , far away from luxury and city rush,we came back to the property to spot the Flycatcher during the twilight as Yazeen said.Luckily I spotted one in the middle of the fairy evening .With a warm cup of chai , we gathered around a Campfire once after the natural lights gets off .Sitting nearby a campfire,listening to the wild sounds of the jungle, getting enough warmth to survive the frosty night,talking about the stars and the moon was the real treasure that less people could experience in mindfulness.
Tasty homely food from Unni (chettan)brother is the highly recommended thing in ‘things to do list’ of elablooms .They provide live dinner,barbecue set, breakfast,tea and snacks ,musical night,campfire , trekking activities and accommodation as one day package with budget friendly different tariffs for couple,solo travelers and families .7KM Off-road Pickup and drop jeep rates are of extra cost that is excluded in the normal packages. At a time I guess upto 60 people can be accommodated without rush. They own this 18 acres of forest land where Elablooms is situated.
•WHAT IF I DON’T GO FOR A TREK ?
Yes. You got amazing other things to do here. No worries. Ela Blooms have got a big court in the middle of the misty mountains, where you can play badminton or any shuttle games . Meeting new friends and playing in the outdoor is also a cheesy part of the game .
Surprisingly Ela provide reading books for fellow travelers who love to read in the wild. A good mindset, with perfect natural ambience is the best time to read a book in the outdoor.
• LUXURIOUS RESORT OR SOMETHING ?
No. There is no place for luxury here. ‘Not a conventional resort , not even a home stay , Ela Blooms is more of a cabin in the woods kinda thing.’, they says. If you’re looking for a homely natural ambience in the middle of the forest, with very less network coverage and unexplainable climate goals , mountain life with tasty food in the heights , comfortable stay with decorations of Mother Nature, music of forests and so much more. This is your paradise in Wayanad. Something beyond the word Home.
Within one day, I realised that this forest needs multiple days of stay to explore entirely and discovering the unknown completely.
Ela blooms, is home for me now . I can tell you, it’s a sacred sanctuary where human and those vulnerable creatures in the nature still live in peace and harmony together. I can sense that in each and every moment I spend here . I really appreciate the hosting members of this family for gifting me such a beautiful experience in the wild much peacefully. Especially Emmanuel , Shibili, Yazeen, Dalite, Nassi and Unni brother and amazing living beings in the wild .
'Kurunji' the wild cat, 'Minnu' the lovely doggie & her cutie friendly puppies, Our hyper kiddo 'totto' and the frequent visitor Sheil-tale snake babies with the evening guest 'Flying Squirrel' in the twilight.
You my supertramps, never miss the 'one side lover' there in the wild who always say, "Wherever you go I will be there" - 900 Leeches. I got multiple bites while trekking to waterfalls last day. But still worthy one.
And the dream like wild seven Elephants who is living peacefully across the 4-acre waterfalls & streams, like Yazeen said and I still believe due to the strange response I get from the wild forest while on trek. Yay, I listen and observe little more than anyone that I never miss a chance to spot at least a butterfly with magical colours like rainbow.
And the one and only jungle that always behaved as the 'territory of big cats' and made me search of mysterious pug marks madly. Let's hope for a black cat. But nobody has spotted it anywhere in this year.
The history of this sacred land is written in Malabar Manual Book. If you are a bookaholic I would like to recommend to read it well to know about 900 Kandi forest land.
This paradise is so Lovely, Mysterious , Wildest and Beyond the word
'Home'.
Have you heard about Forest bath? Yes, it’s a Japanese treatment, nature therapy or ecotherapy anything that you may name it. It’s my medicine during my travel days in the jungle and mountains. Like Skin to earth, limbs cradled by a living refuge , Touching the wet soil barefoot in the forest, Ears filled with lucid lullabies in the wild, jumping sounds of Langurs on tall trees , ginger coloured clouds gathering along the horizon, high altitude weather and atmosphere that refresh the body and soul, lungs of the forests and rivers exhale the same sound of eternity, experiencing the surrending nature of human being, tasting river waters from unending water bodies , swallowing the wild nature completely inwards deep into the heart, and so much more that reflects as the beauty of stillness around you.. A single forest bath like this in the outdoor will heal you more beautifully than any other techniques that you’ve ever tried for a refreshment or magical healing. Forest bath work in a field that heals you, so you can heal others .
I did this thing here in Ela Blooms a multiple times in the wild , that is still guiding me home with peace and harmony all the time I travel.
Such is my days in this eco-friendly property with mindfulness and meaningful experiences.
• MY MONDAY MORNING LOOKS LIKE
I woke up like a lazy child early in the morning with the rise of half little sun, little foggy climate, cold breeze that play on my hair without an invitation, sitting with a cup of black tea by the lovely host , watching nature changing colours and the leaves fall. Some wild plants have grown in corners of the crevasses like it’s nobody’s business and a river flows down through the valley gently creating wild rapids along the way. Looking incredible, amazingly wonderful, so effortless, gracious, unapologetically wild and free. Aww. This is heaven.
Through the reawakened fluidity of my borderless heart, I experienced a depth of connection that I was unaware existed until I fell head over heels in love with the purity of stillness. Connection into the wild, to myself, to others , to every living creatures upon this earth. These jungle vibrations and fathomless flows of words are not just by me, these are unanimous words of every soul who has visited Elablooms.
Dear Home, I love you little more that I usually do
If you’re looking for a nature friendly stay in Wayanad, don’t rush with enquiries , Here’s your wish list . Choose now and Thank me Later
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I know you will
You always did , you crazy travel folks
Hope winter sun is treating you well my dear supertramps on road.
Here’s to my winter destination.
• TRAVEL INFORMATIONS
Nearest Railway Station- Calicut Railway Station within 85 KM
Nearest Airport - Calicut Airport within 98 KM
Nearest City - Kalpetta within 18.6 KM
Distance from Bangalore- 299 KM
Nearest other tourist destinations: Soojipara Waterfalls, Chembra Peak
•HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR ONE DAY ?
•Inclusive Package starts at Rs. 1500 per head
(Dinner,Breakfast,Campfire,Trekking Activities)
•Couple Package Starts at Rs. 3000
And Amazing Customised packages are available
(With and without Food )
CONTACT INFORMATION
Instagram handle of Elablooms:
https://instagram.com/elablooms?igshid=vld23pdmpf27
Website:
http://elablooms.com/
I would rate Ela Blooms 900 Kandi as a paradise you ‘ MUST VISIT ‘ in your Next Wayanad Trip.
Thank You for reading and looking into it. I see you
Happy travel Folks .
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