Sahari Mariental Resort: A World of Eucalyptus
Some of the more off beat trails near Munnar can be found near the farm and orchard village of Vattavada and Pampadum Shola National Park, the smallest national park in Kerala. Not only is this place insanely beautiful, it is also super quiet and blessed with amazing nature. In simple words, it is a fabulous choice for a quiet and relaxed nature holiday. In terms of staying options, you can stay inside the Pampadum Shola National Park in huts, at homestays that are located near vegetable farms or stay by the fringes of the Pampadum Shola National Park.
During our recent Neelakurinji road trip across Kerala, my friends and I opted for the third option and stayed for a couple of nights at a place called Sahari Mariental Resort that is surrounded by tall Eucali and Eucalyptus trees. We stayed here for two days and two nights and this review is based on this recent experience.
Fabulous Location
Sahari Mariental Resort is located right after you cross the Pampadum Shola National Park on the Vattavada side. This means that all those shola national park drives and treks inside the forest are easily accessible and you can even catch a herd of wild gaur crossing the road if you leave early morning. The vegetable and fruit farms of Vattavada are just a couple of kilometres away, which means exotic strawberry wines are just round the corner. And the property itself is in the midst of a gorgeous Eucalyptus forest that gives it a stunning look. Lying here on a hammock and staring up at the tall Eucalyptus trees is nothing short of surreal.
Simple Property in Nature
Sahari Mariental Resort is a simple property that is made up of mud huts and wooden bungalows that are located in 14 acres of Eucalyptus forest. I would go here for nature, but for other urban denizens, they provide modern day evils like satellite television and internet connectivity. One of their best perks is a lovely outdoor camp site that is perfect for those chilly evenings and nights.
If you love animals, you will definitely fall in love with Maya and her pups and the super friendly cat ‘Rosy’. These animals are perfect companions to de stress and to feel like a child again.
Even though the property is located in steep terrain, they have concrete roads that allow vehicles to traverse all the way till the rooms.
Food and Hospitality can be Better
This is one area where Sahari Mariental Resort can do better. There food is fairly basic and the cooking certainly needs some variety and love. The people running the place are a bit lazy. May be, it is the remote location and/or the weather, but it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of hospitality and service.
Overall, the place is nice, but I am not sure if I will return unless the hospitality levels and food menu improves. If the forest huts at Pampadum Shola National Park are booked and you wish to stay close to the national park, this could be a potential option.
