This was my second visit to Kerala. I had travelled there before, but this time it felt different. It was more special because I was travelling with my better half. Somehow, that changes everything — the conversations, the laughter, even the silence feels beautiful.
As I always say, I prefer staying away from crowded towns. I like countryside stays, where mornings are slow and nights are quiet. So after checking many options, we booked The Woods Resort in Chethalayam, Wayanad. We reached early in the morning after driving overnight from Bangalore, a little tired but very excited.
To our surprise, the staff allowed us early check-in since the room was available. That itself made our day.
The moment we entered the property, I knew we had chosen the right place. It did not feel like a typical commercial resort. It felt calm. Green. Spacious. There were cottages spread across the property, surrounded by trees, farms, and small pathways.
We stayed in one of their wooden cottages. The design was simple but very comfortable. A private entrance, a small sit-out balcony with chairs, and greenery all around. In the morning, we sat there with coffee in hand, just listening to birds. No traffic noise. No hurry. Just us and the fresh Wayanad air.
The room had a sofa area where we would sit and plan our day. Sometimes we ordered coffee. Sometimes we just made it ourselves using the kettle and enjoyed doing nothing. That balcony became our small world for four days.
PC – Woods Resorts Wayanad Site
One thing I liked about this resort was how close it was to nature. There is an organic farm inside the property. Early mornings, we walked through the farm paths. They grow vegetables and spices there, which are later used in their kitchen. It felt nice knowing the food on our plate was grown just a few steps away.
There is also a small fish pond and a lake area. We tried fishing just for fun. I did not catch anything, but it was peaceful sitting there and trying. They even have archery set up — again, more for experience than competition. We laughed more than we aimed properly.
Food was another highlight. Breakfast had both South Indian and continental options. We tried local dishes mostly. Fresh fruits, hot dosas, and good coffee started our mornings well. Dinner was also satisfying, and I liked that they used farm-grown ingredients wherever possible.
The swimming pool area was clean and well maintained. After long day trips in Wayanad, getting into that cool water felt refreshing. Evenings were my favourite time at the resort.
Every evening around 7 PM, they arranged a small campfire. Two young boys who works in the resort brought wooden piles. And they setup the campfire place. Guests gathered around, some with tea, some with snacks. On some days, there was music and even a little DJ setup.
Kids were dancing, a few couples joined in, and some just sat quietly watching the fire. One evening, they arranged a local tribal dance performance. That was a different experience altogether — simple, traditional, and meaningful.
Campfire evenings
There is also a small indoor games room with table tennis, carrom, chess and more. We spent one afternoon there when it rained outside. It felt like going back to childhood.
Stays are open from morning to evening, and guests can enjoy playing these indoor games without extra charges. Club has Table Tennis, Snooker, Carom, Chess, foosball, and other setups installed in a spacious room with attached toilets to allow guests to have a hassle-free time.
The resort also supports local tribal communities by selling handcrafted wooden items and pure honey. We bought some organic honey before leaving. It felt good to take back something local instead of something commercial.
Near the farm, they have a fishing lake and archery facilities also. People who keep interested in fishing can enjoy fishing here. And bows-arrows, at least for photo lovers.
What I really liked about this place is that you can actually spend one full day inside the resort without stepping out and still not feel bored. Between the farm walk, pool time, campfire, and just sitting in the balcony doing nothing, time passed peacefully.
Our four days there went by slowly, but in a good way. No rush. No tight schedule. Just exploring Wayanad during the day and coming back to a quiet stay in the evening.
Out of the four days, we spent two full days going out for sightseeing. It was truly amazing to see so many beautiful places — waterfalls, caves, scenic roads, and peaceful heritage spots. Each place had its own charm.
One special moment for me was visiting the famous Edakkal Caves — the same place where scenes from the Kannada movie Edakallu Guddada Mele were filmed. I didn’t know that before going there, and it felt even more exciting once I found out. Standing there and remembering those scenes gave me a different kind of happiness.
I will share more about that experience in a separate post.
If I visit Wayanad again, I would honestly consider staying there once more — maybe during monsoon, when everything turns even greener.
That stay made our Kerala trip more memorable than expected.