LF Says: ★★★★
It was the mercy of the rain gods and a rainy Wayanad was bewitching to the eyes. The cascading streams, the freshly washed rainforests, expanses of tea plantations and coconut gardens, bustling villages and spice markets, and misty clouds had me hooked to my window for the entire journey to the resort. It was indeed a gratifying bon accueil in God’s own country!
Situated in the heart of the rainforests of Lakkidi, Wayanad Wild – a CGH resort – will make you fall in love with the wilderness. With its rooms peeking out of the treetops, vintage lamp posts, a camouflaging lobby and an infinity pool surrounded by the foliage – this forest lodge becomes a gateway into Narnia you would never want to come out of.
Getting to Wayanad Wild is an adventure in itself. From the service parking, a Jeep took us on a foggy three-and-a-half kilometre off-roading journey with forests on one side and cascading tea estates on the other. The welcome at the resort is quite traditional, with a Wayanadan wooden pendant and Sulaemani – a refreshing Wayanadan-staple spiced tea that gained popularity in the Malabar region through trade. Prepared by boiling tea leaves with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and a dash of lemon at the end, it is also an excellent digestive drink after a heavy meal.
The stairs to the lobby were covered by a stupendous canopy made of Scarlet Clock Vine flowers, which was both beautiful and helped camouflage the construction in plain sight. I often spotted the Great Orange Tip butterfly and the Crimson-backed Sunbird (a bird endemic to the region) here. The lobby is elementary, crisp and sophisticated, all the while disguising itself in the forest of Wayanad and displaying accents of Wayanadan culture through its décor.
Nadasaram and Thavil are two auspicious instruments played in South India, especially for special occasions. When you arrive at Wayanad Wild, you will be greeted by these lovely wooden gentlemen in the lobby who represent the classical musicians of the region. A blackboard in the corner of the lobby enlists the various activities of the day, the special for Malabar Kitchen and the topic of discussion at the Draco Club Library. A hallway on the left leads to the dining area and the Club Library. On the right is the way to the swimming pool and recreational rooms that house a few indoor games.
Living with nature
The layout of Wayanad Wild is quite interesting. A small road connects all the rooms on the three tiers of the resort. If you want to give yourself an unfiltered experience of the woods, consider climbing to your room – it could be a mini workout. Nonetheless, the resort’s buggy service is prompt, and the staff is extremely warm. The resort’s Superior rooms are situated next to each other, while the Deluxe are standalone rooms. I was staying in the Deluxe with Balcony on the uppermost level, which translates into guaranteed stunning vistas of the Western Ghats. And beyond that wooden door of my room was a quaint sanctuary beautifully blended with nature and luxury.
The rooms are cosy yet spacious, raw yet sophisticated, and natural yet luxurious. The room is decked with a king-size bed that offers 270-degree view of the stunning Western Ghats, a couch and curtains in complementing shades of light green and white, and a beautiful painting of the Orange Minivets accentuated with mood lighting. The sizeable bathroom is filled with luxe amenities, including ‘Umikari’, a traditional mouthwash widely used in Kerala made from activated charcoal powder from rice husk. CGH proudly mentions the absence of a television in the room, and honestly, you will not miss it. However, the entire resort has a great mobile and Wi-Fi network, so consider Wayanad Wild for your next work-from-home staycation.
The best part, though, was the cosy balcony, where I lounged with a cup of tea in the evenings, watching the fog steadily settle and slowly take over the magnificent mountains to eventually engulf the cabins beneath us. Despite being located within a forest, the resort felt very safe, even while walking down the hill at night for dinner.
Dining with nature
Similar to the other properties under the CGH banner, Wayanad Wild aims to provide a cohesive and authentic local cuisine and culture to its guests with its only restaurant. And it certainly exceeds expectations, both in terms of gastronomy and the ambience. The restaurant is constructed on a raised platform like the lobby, with similar design aesthetics, very muted yet welcoming due to abundant sunlight and the foliage around it. The open verandah, often used for the morning yoga session, helps illuminate the place during the day. A curtain divides you from the trees and the wild.
The restaurant offers buffet and à la carte menus. However, you will have to place your à la carte order beforehand. General Manager, David Raju, mentions that the chefs at Wayanad Wild, some of whom have been with the group for over three decades, visit the local markets to make the seasonal purchases themselves. With a considerable number of tables, there’s enough space to occupy without being crowded. The extreme right section holds the buffet spread. The best part of the restaurant is the stunning nature corner that acts like a huge television. The tables are decorated with beautiful origami from leaves and napkins. Wayanad Wild does not source plastic water bottles. The resort has its own filtering unit to distil the water collected from the streams during the monsoons.
The food at the resort is a delectable blend of international delicacies, Indian regional favourites and authentic Wayanadan or Malabar cuisine. Blessed with a geography that produces some of the best spices, flavour isn’t what you should worry about. Every buffet menu is planned in a way that offers the best of the season with a twist of its own. The breakfast spreads at Wayanad are refreshing and fulfilling, while you will find Indian giant squirrels and monkeys giving you company. The resort, however, does not permit feeding them.
Idiyappam, also known as string hopper, served with vegetable stew, is one of the best ways to start your mornings. The dinners at Wayanad Wild are especially beautiful. The entire restaurant is lit with oil lamps, giving you the perfect jungle experience. Having never experienced Keralan food, I enjoyed the various Payasams and the very crunchy papadam. The Malabar parotta is a must-try. A speciality here is Kingfish, stuffed with chillies and small onions – a guaranteed burst of flavour in your mouth. Do try Paalthondi, the native rice of the district, especially for its unique aroma. Apart from the scrumptious fish, non-vegetarians can rejoice with a host of varieties of chicken and mutton curries, all made with the freshest produce and the finest spices available. For vegetarians, try the special Bamboo rice. It’s flavourful, fresh and mouthwatering. Payasam, the local rice pudding, is offered in many different types and styles.
Wayanad’s culinary traditions are influenced by local produce and foreign influences, a result of trade, invasions and external migrations. The hilly region is home to some of the best pepper varieties, cinnamon and other spices, rice and vegetable produce. As a teaser to the Malabar cuisine, the resort holds a regular activity called the Malabar Kitchen, where every day a chef explains and cooks a special dish in front of guests. I saw how to make the Malabar Cinnamon Chicken Masala. The chef explained to us the ingredients of this mouthwatering delicacy, the tips and tricks to make the best curry possible, while the aromas took my breath away. Cinnamon Chicken Masala is heavy on cinnamon, without adding to the heat of the dish. It is beautifully laced with other spices that quietly support the stars of the dish.
Lounging with nature
Besides the many nature trails, Wayanad Wild offers a few more arenas to enjoy the nature around. The resort holds morning yoga sessions – the perfect start to your day. The resort’s recreational area houses a table tennis table, a couple of carrom boards, and a television set – just in case. The Draco Club Library is a mini nature museum that holds many images of the birds, snakes, frogs and other animals endemic to the Western Ghats. A beautiful possession of the club is the Rufous Woodpecker’s nest, which is built within the nest of Crematogaster ants – a symbiotic relationship between the prey and its predator.
However, nothing can defeat the luxurious infinity swimming pool with the jungle on almost all sides. The swimming pool is accessible from two paths, the changing rooms are spacious, and the open shower is calming. The beach chairs are perfect for lounging. Swimming in the pool with the drizzling rain was both exciting and calming. The birds played a beautiful symphony, which was especially fun, more so as I could spot a few, thanks to the bird-watching tours. You will forget Instagram.
Wayanad Wild is a paradise for nature enthusiasts and families alike. And their hospitality is exceptional. I can very well foresee the resort becoming a second home.
LF Says: ★★★★
Coordinates: Lakkidi, Kunnathidavaka, Kerala, India
