Edakkal Hermitage (Wayanad), A Hill Resort in the Land of Spices
Edakkal Hermitage is situated near the Edakkal caves in Wayanad (Kerala).The resort offers a very comfortable stay in the midst of nature looking greenery all-around at an elevation of 1200 metres above main sea level.
About Edakkal Hermitage
Edakkal Hermitage is situated near the Edakkal caves in Wayanad district in Kerala. This Resort was conceived and is managed by the architectural partnership concern Contour Dakshin. The general elevation of the resort is some what 1200 metres above the main sea level. The scenery is not just beautiful but sublime! The resort offers a very comfortable stay in the midst of nature looking greenery all-around. The scenic beauty of the Western Ghats, which stand like sentinels overlooking the Edakkal Hermitage is truly well harmonised with the tradition of hospitality that seems to be an intrinsic feature of the Hermitage. The atmosphere is very homely and the food is also homelike. They provide an excellent service and the staffs are extremely courteous and kind. Every one would love to be here again.
The main aim of Edakkal hermitage is to call attention to the little known Edakkal Caves and the beauties of eastern Wayanad. This is boulder country and the rooms at the resort are built around the rocks. The resort is on a smaller parcel of land and the theme of rocks and caves is beautifully echoed here. One of the most beautiful attractions is the Tree House - a room atop a tamarind tree. The room boasts of a fan, bed and a toilet. Not for the faint hearted, but the view from top is great, especially when it rains, giving one a feeling of floating in air. Another main attraction of the resort is the dining in the natural cave lit with candles. It is a unique experience at the Edakkal Hermitage and gives a remembrance of the pre-historic man who inhabited in the caves. The home away from home feeling is reinforced with the resort's literally garden fresh delectable offerings from the restaurant. The open- air theatre, with its dramatic Western Ghats backdrop, can be made privy to performances of kalaripayattu (martial art) and tribal dances upon prior intimation.
The resort is very Eco-friendly and they are concerned about the nature. The location being on the slope of a hill, pits at strategic locations are made to harvest the flow of rain water and also to reduce soil erosion. Spring water being the main source of water, is harnessed and brought to the resort using gravity and thus minimizing the usage of artificial forms of energy for the same. An Ayurvedic offering by the local hospital Ayur Kendra from Kalpetta is amongst the facilities that the guests may avail of during their stay here.
Overall you can spend your leisure time at its best in an exotic location with a delightful stay and can have classy Kerala cuisine in amazing cave restaurant. This combination is available only in Edakkal Hermitage. The most painful part is checking out. It feels as if you are leaving a paradise.Facilities
Edakkal Hermitage is a guest friendly resort. The Information Centre responds to all your queries and assists you wherever required. The Cottages in the resort are well furnished and round the clock room service is available. Other facilities include a little restaurant that serves traditional Malayali cuisine, a shop of souvenirs and books, and an open-air theatre for cultural and heritage events. This open theatre is named as Amphitheatre. The open- air theatre, with its dramatic Western Ghats backdrop, can be made privy to performances of kalaripayattu (martial art) and tribal dances upon prior intimation. They organize sight seeing facilities to the surrounding places which include Pookot Lake, Sentinel Rock Water, Bansura Dam, Chembra Peak, Meenmutty Waterfalls and many more and arrange all the facilities including taxi. They also organize trips to other interesting places in and around Wayanad like the Muthanga wild life sanctuary, nature reserves, water falls, historic relics and ancient temples. An Ayurvedic offering by the local hospital Ayur Kendra from Kalpetta is amongst the other facilities that the guests may avail of during their stay here.Accommodation
Edakkal Hermitageis famous for their special style of cottages which put the resort entirely ahead of other resorts. Most of the cottages are perched on top of rocks and are wrapped around it. The Tree House named 'Wadi Kubbaniya' is the main attraction of the resort. The tree house is about as close to nature as it gets with a completely bamboo based structure supported entirely on a tamarind tree and executed by the craftsmen from 'Uravu; a locally based NGO unit that specializes in bamboo crafts and workmanship. All the Cottages are named after various Paleolithic cave site of repute around the world. The outside view from each cottage is astonishing. The surroundings are so beautiful that you keep on looking at it.
Wadi Kubbaniya: This name belongs to a cave site in Egypt, Africa that dates back to 17000BC.
Edakkal: This cottage has been named after the Edakkal caves, Wayanad, that comprise of a unique form of pre - historic pictographic etchings. These arguably date back to 5000BC.
Altamira: This Cottage has been named after the famous cave site in Spain that boasts of Paleolithic cave paintings, which date back to 30,000BC
Lascaux: This Cottage has been named after the most famous pre-historic cave site in the world that contains paintings dating back to 15000BC. The outside view of the valley from this cottage is really wonderful.
Chauvet: This is named after a pre-historic cave site in South of France. This cottage is located right next to Lascaux cottage sitting comfortably over a large rock.
Kapova: This is named after a pre-historic cave of repute in Russia. This is a 2 bed roomed cottage separated from rest of the cottages.
Restaurant
The restaurant in Edakkal Hermitage serves traditional Malayali cuisine. The jackfruit thoran and morkuzhambu are to die for, and when you get your morning appams you hurry to pour coconut milk over them before they float out of reach. You can enjoy the special made Edakkal iddli, dosa with sambhar and chutney. Most of the vegetables are taken from their own vegetable garden which is free from all types of artificial chemicals. They use only bio-natural fertilizers which are free from toxic chemicals. For lunch and dinner you can have all traditional foods of Kerala. They also serve Malabar special dishes.
The main attraction is the dining in the natural cave lit with candles. It is a unique experience at the Edakkal Hermitage. No one would forget in their life about the dinner they had in the cave in the candle light.Online Reservation Facility
Online reservation facility is available at Edakkal Hermitage. You have to open their official website and can book the room according to your choice and budget. You have to give your proper personal address and telephone number. All bookings are confirmed subject to receipt of 50% payment in advance. On receipt of the payment, a confirmation mail will be sent. Until the payment is received in advance, all bookings will be treated as provisional and the same will be released to other booking that guarantees payment. Payment can be made by way of account transfer to an ICICI or UTI bank account, held by the company.
Cancellation Policy
The reserved room can be cancelled according to the requirement of the guest's booking and cancellation policy. 90% of the amount is refunded if the cancellation is effected beyond 16 days and 75% of the amount is refunded if the cancellation is made between 11 and 15 days prior to the check-in date. No cash is refunded if the cancellation is done within 10 days prior to the check-in date. For payments made by credit cards, they will issue a credit note via a credit slip and for payments made by any other modes; they will issue an account payee cheque within 15 days of receipt of written cancellation request. Sight Seeing
Edakkal Hermitage arranges sight seeing visit to the tourist places in Wayanad. Edakkal Caves comprise of a unique form of pre - historic pictographic etchings. It is assumed that the Edakkal caves have been inhabited at various stages in history. Pookot Lake is a natural fresh water lake surrounded by rich greenery. You can do Boating, can see the Fresh water aquarium or can enjoy the scenic view of the surrounded beautiful forest. You can do shopping of handicrafts and spices here. Sentinel Rock Watern is a three step water fall of more than 200 m. in height. The view from the top is really heartbreaking. Banasura Dam is the largest earth dam in India. Chembra Peak is the highest peak in Wayanad which is at a height of 2100mtrs above mean sea level. In Meenmutty Water Fall Water falls to a depth of more than 500metres in three steps. You can see a school called Kanavu which is for the tribal people of Wayanad. The tomb of Veera pazhassi Rajah Pazhassi Memoria, the Lion of Kerala, who mobilized the Kurichia tribe and fought against the English company is also located here. You can see the ruins of the ancient Jain Temple at Panamaram and Sultan Bathery. 
How to Reach
The Edakkal Hermitage is situated on the western side of Ambukuthimala hill, twelve kilometers south-west of the town of Sulthan Battery.
Resort is approximately 100 kilometres away from Calicut airport. The nearest railway station is Calicut junction which is 65 kilometres away from the resort. Roads are well connected to the resort. Buses are available throughout the day. Luxury buses and Volvo buses are available from all major south Indian cities to Calicut.
Address
Edakkal Hermitage
Wayanad
Kerala 673592
India
Mobile: 91 98470 01491, 91 94472 62570
Office: 91 4936 221860 & 91 4936 260123.
Camp: 91 4936 261178
Email : info@edakkal.com
Reference: www.edakkal.com
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