Instead of staying home for Dasara this year, we decided to go on a short vacation and stay at Anandavana. It was not an easy decision to not stay home and miss our an annual ritual of arranging Dasara dolls every year at home. But with no other holidays aligning for all of us in the family, we had to bite the bullet. I zeroed in on Anandavana Homestay for two reasons – proximity and food. Anandavana Homestay is nestled amidst lush coffee and pepper plantations near Belur Basavanahalli, few kilometers away from Somawarpet. This beautiful homestay offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
One of the biggest plus points of Anandavana is its location. Despite it is less than 40 kilometers away from Madikeri, it is hidden away from all the tourist traffic. The homestay is just 800 meters off the Kushalnagar-Somwarpet highway. Spread across six acres of coffee estate, you are surrounded by the melodious chirping of birds all through the day.
The homestay has four spacious rooms, that can accommodate up to 16 people. Each room has two king-size beds and an attached bathroom. The rooms are well-maintained, clean, and equipped with all the necessary amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. The place has a Wi-Fi connection. Since I didn’t carry my laptop, I cannot comment on how practical it is to have a workation. Speaking of connectivity, only Jio network works in the vicinity and no other mobile networks. In few places within the estate I could get patchy Airtel signal once in a while.
When we arrived at Anandavana around noon. Guddu Kamath, the ever smiling caretaker, welcomed us at the entrance. After we freshened up, he gave us a quick tour of the place, and we headed to lunch. The homestay serves only vegetarian food – a combination of both South and North Indian cuisine. All the vegetables used for cooking and fruits served to the guests are grown within the estate premises. I had requested an early dinner for my parents (around 5:30-6 PM), they happily obliged to prepare and serve dinner early in the evening for them.
Anandavana is best suited for ‘do-nothing’ vacation. You can go on long walks within the estate and along the country roads. Though I had planned to do that exactly, the plan changed. We decided to visit nearby places in the first half of the day and rest post lunch. During our four days stay, we managed to visit Harangi dam, Chiklihole Reservoir, Kote Betta, and Abbimatta falls. If you are looking for a place to have dance parties, music, and other adventures, unfortunately Anandavana is not the right place.
Anandavana is about 10 kilometers from Somwarpet, the nearest town. If you have your own transport, there are two options to get there. One, via Kunigal, Channarayapattna, Shanivarasante. Two, via Mysore, Hunsur and Kushalnagar. I took the first route as I wanted to avoid the Dasara crowd heading to Mysore during the holidays. In case you prefer public transport, there are daily buses plying from Bengaluru to Somwarpet.
Anandavana Homestay is a place where you can truly unwind, reconnect with nature, and create memories. It offers a perfect blend of serenity, comfort, and good food. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway, keep Anandavana as one of your options to stay.