Vythiri Wild Forest Resort, Wayanad, Kerala
We got rooms in Vythiri Wild Forest Resort right beside the stream; so good audio and visual surroundings were a bonus. Each morning we woke to the gurgling sound of the stream and at nights we played audience to the loud crickets.
Vythiri wild forest resort is quite complete in every sense; self-contained, (good value-for-money!). The restaurant is reached by crossing a hanging bridge over the stream. And each time the children would run excitedly across it causing the bridge to sway. It was thrilling for them and in between all the excitement we managed to spend few quite moments on the bridge watching the stream flow below.
“A destination waiting to be explored” that’s what they said and we did just that.
The restaurant at Vythiri Resorts is sort of semi-open, a portion of it jutting out of a hillock. Food was yummy catering to all kinds of taste. But we were not foodoholics so it hardly mattered. And one morning when we were having our breakfast there a cloud swept past us. “Why isn’t the cloud carrying us?” Arundhati wondered aloud, and answered herself: “It happens only in cartoon channel!” This time she sounded wiser.
Discovery of Land Snail
On the way back to the rooms the children discovered a snail- a land snail. It was a fully grown one, almost palm size, trudging along leaving behind a silvery trail. The thorough city-bred kids picnicking there crowded around the snail in total shock and disbelief, as if they were watching a dinosaur! To their amazement they found plenty around; I saw them taking care not to step on them. Arundhati was almost ready to pack one somehow and bring it home. With lots of coaxing and cajoling she was convinced the snail was quite at home here.
Encounter With Leeches
The next encounter was with leeches. This time the leech discovered Arundhati first. We were just settling for dinner at the restaurant when Arundhati screamed with fear, a black wriggly string was stuck to her leg. Before I could reach her she had pulled it out and it lay wriggling on the floor. A waiter at the restaurant of Vythiri Resorts sprinkled salt over it and soon it was dead. Total silence set in. The kids around watched with horror. Her wound was bleeding though not profusely. The experienced waiters there comforted us saying that the bleeding would stop and so it did. My little one is not going to forget this episode in the tropical rain forest easily.
While trekking along the stream in Vythiri Resorts complex we each had our share of leech bites. We came across an unusual sight of a tree on a boulder. The roots of the tree had completely covered the boulder and the tree stood tall, seemingly balanced on the rounded contours.
The stream was forever inviting, but we had to wind up. And we packed up with memories of creepy crawlies, cloud encounters and innumerable other visual treats. Yes this is what you call being close to nature!
How to reach Vythiri Resorts from Bangalore
Bangalore to Wayanad distance is 281 km approx. It is about 5.5 hours drive in no traffic. The route is via NH766 and NH948.
The place looks amazing! Looks like a real break from the city! The pictures of the snails are awesome! I do hope I do not come across those leeches!
Heard a lot about this place when I was in Bangalore but could never make it. Lovely jungles! Those snails are so colourful, totally unlike the ones I am used to.
Vythiri looks like it’s straight out of Jurassic Park! I’m sure your poor daughter won’t soon forget her leech encounter.
Ohh those leeches! I hope that you and your company are okay by now. But overall, amazing adventure you had at Vythiri resorts. The ambiance is so relaxing an looks very refreshing. Wow I really love the feeling of exploring paradise. Thanks for sharing, I really love all of the photos.
This reminds me very much of the Taman Negara in Malaysia – tropical paradise, canopy walk….but unfortunately also leeches – they were terrible.
It looks like such a serene paradise – sooo relaxing!
How tranquil to wake every day to the sounds of gurgling water and to fall asleep each night to the sounds of the natural nightlife.
I would have gone gaga over sighting the land snails at Vythiri Resort. Very cool indeed.
Sounds like an amazing stay, except for the leeches!
WOW! I love when resorts have the opportunity for adventures as well as relaxation, and this looks just like that! Looks like the treks were beautiful – leeches sound scary though!
The land snail is a fascinating creature. Our daughter goes to UC Santa Cruz, home of the banana slugs (both literally and figuratively). The land snail looks like a banana slug with a shell. Vythiri looks like such a beautiful property don’t think we would ever need to leave it.
I love the color yellow so that snail is very attractive to me. But leeches I really do not like. And it’s why I do not want to go into forests anymore.
I just love how lush it is. That tree growing over a boulder! The land snails! Would love to take my family here.
It is a pity that hailing from Kerala, I have never been to vythiri! But yes, it has always been on the wish list. Loved reading the account. Even I haven’t seen snails that big or with shells! I am glad that you enjoyed being in my state:)
Your visit to the Place with family as you explained in the Post thru’ amazing photographs is just enough to create interest in people who sure plan for a visit to the area, Indrani.. I can say that you are truly gifted with these great Presentation Skills.. The leech experience is a little tension creating.. We faced similar leech problem when visited Coorg and stayed in the Orange County.. Thanks for sharing such a nice Post!
Have been here…it sure is a good resort. Loved the birds that visited this resort.
What an experience. I never encountered leech but knew that salt is the solution. That’s why all trekkers in Himalayas ensure that they have a pack of salt in their pockets.
WOW!! Superb!! I like the Snail pic…the most amazing! Exploring such places soothes the soul!!
What a treasure this experience would have been!
What a lovely place !! We had planned a trip to Vythri this year in May-June but it got cancelled due to personal reasons. But I still hope to make it in Dec 🙂
Looks like a calm, serene and a place to enjoy long walks with some adventures…Thanks for sharing.
Nice to read this 🙂 I have explored this area less – I need to be there! 🙂
The resort looks peaceful and having a great natural ambiance. Loved the pictures… 🙂
A lovely account of the place. And beautiful pictures 🙂
its a good suggestion. Have been planning Kerala trip. Gosh no holidays for me 🙁
Heard about this resort many a times, beautiful!! I’m sure the explorations along the stream must have been a lot of fun! Being close tot he nature does wonders, doesn’t it?
Sounds like a lovely relaxing holiday! Looks like a beautiful place… spending some time like this in nature can really be rejuvenating!
it is very nice place but also very expensive
This looks quite adventurous… beautiful clicks! 🙂
Beautiful pictures. The nails and leeches might have made kids have ‘their day’ . It is very interesting for them
I have been to Vythiri once, after marriage. I just loved it. One of the best resort I have even been till date. The screeching sound of falls beside each cottage was noisy yet peaceful. I think you know what I mean here Indrani. Nicely reviewed.
Yes that is peace!
Thank you Gowtham.
The place looks quite an adventure with attractive pictures ! you have written a workable description Indrani Ji .
Thank you Yogiji!
wow!!! this is my kind of holiday!!
People put salt to kill leeches. However, the correct way is to slide a sharp thin object between the leech and your skin. The leech hangs on to the body by a suction kind of mechanism. Insert the sharp knife/pen knife etc between it and the body so that the suction cup mechanism breaks off and the leech immediately come out. Then just remove it. Any other means of forcibly removing it will result in a tiny lump in the body after the wound heals.
Locals in South India often place a newspaper or paper tissue on the area to stop the blood clot.
I didn’t know this. Thank you for the info.
And you get leech socks too Indrani. Otherwise you could spray Muscle sprain medicine on a customized cotton socks.
Vythiri is an awesome place !
Had been to Vythiri resort some years back… Its really a nice place and as you mentioned the stream is forever inviting … A great place for unwinding ..!
Amazing, Beautiful photos.
Great pics..lovely narrative!
OMG. The solution for leech biting is Sprinkling salt on leech? Thanks GOD that the bleeding stopped.
Cheers,
Sriram & Krithiga
This resort looks like a perfect retreat for family, especially kids! Beautiful pictures Indrani…
The place looks quite an adventure. Well, except the leeches part. I mean who would want their blood to be sucked by leeches, even if it’s painless.
Though leeches bite doesn’t hurt much but seeing the blood oozing makes the kids scream. I did it too the first time 😉
Aww! Those nails are lovely 😉