Tranquil Plantation

Set on a working coffee and spice plantation near Sultan Battery among the jungles of northern Kerala’s Wayanad District, Tranquil Resort is a lovingly restored 1930s plantation bungalow offering wonderful authenticity and an inspiring boutique homestay experience. Your hosts, Victor and Gini Dey and their family, are completely charming, and have created a peaceful, friendly and relaxing sanctuary prefect for enjoying the delights of rural South India, enjoying an Ayurvedic massage to the sound of birdsong or exploring the ecological treasures of the Malabar rainforest.

There are just nine rooms and suites at Tranquil, all extremely spacious and fitted out with polished wooden floors and comfortable modern amenities. Five rooms are situated in a garden annex, and there is a deluxe room in the main house and a luxury suite with its own private garden positioned close to a lovely swimming pool. But the showstoppers at Tranquil are the two magnificent treehouses where, if you book early enough, you can spend your nights up in the jungle canopy and be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the Kerala rainforest. Meals are enjoyed communally on the open-sided deck of the main house and are a highlight for many who stay, featuring superb home-cooked local cuisine, and plenty of chances to get to know your fellow guests or chat with your delightful hosts Victor and Gini.

A number of trails wind through the estate at Tranquil, offering glimpses into the growing and production of coffee and pepper, as well as the ecological riches of the rainforest. One trail leads to a cave daubed with prehistoric rock art going back at least 8,000 years. Birding is first rate at Tranquil, and nearby Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary provides further wildlife spotting opportunities, including elephant, bison, wild dog and even tiger.