From a prominent Syrian Christian (Catholic) family named Manayath which have roots in agriculture. They are glad to take you around the farm or the many places of interest or just sit and chat with you. The interaction with the family is an experience for the guests on issues like farming, cuisine and culture etc.

This will be an excellent opportunity to reside with a family and share a Keralan way of life in serene and peaceful surroundings complemented with warm hospitality and traditional home cooked food; excellent comfort and hygiene standards; a village and rural life experience; and above all, an interaction to cherish and enhance your holiday experience.

It is a special place, as it provides something different, fascinating, especially for those who prefer small and friendly places. Manayath Heritage Residence is a novel and exclusive idea to introduce to the international and domestic tourists who are weary of the usual hotel stay, a hitherto unknown way of enjoying a holiday by providing a home stay or a ‘home away from your home’.

Home Stay/ guest house is situated at Chellarkovil village, which is on the outskirts of the very famous Periyar Wild life sanctuary (Thekkady), in the Idukki district of Kerala. This property is the owner’s ancestral place, suitably located on the Kerala-Tamilnadu state’s border. The guest house (villa) is surrounded by a spice garden where pepper, cardamom, clove; vanilla, coffee, tropical fruits etc. are planted.

The house is remarkable for its calm, clean and quite surroundings. The steep Tamilnadu valley on the south east forms a close back drop to the villa. Panoramic view of Tamilnadu plains, a lovely cascade, sprawling spice plantations, high altitude paddy fields, bushes and cliffs, cloud -clad peaks, unending chains of hills of the Western Ghats etc. are the natural attractions here.

Food is definitely one of the highlights of staying at Manayath Heritage residence. The cuisine is mostly local and cooked by the family. Being a traditional agrarian household, lavish meals are more or less the norm and pretty much a way of life. Meals are served either in the villa or in the family dining room. Self-catering facilities are minimal. The whole family or at least some of them will definitely join with you for the meals. They are glad to cater for any special diets if needed and also provide for vegetarian options too. In fact all meals are discussed with the guests.

They also cater for (lunch parties) non-resident guests but only on a prior arrangement basis. They also offer   cooking classes for resident guests who are interested in learning the local cuisine. The cuisine is predominantly   Syrian Christian in par with Keralan touch and tradition. Most of the dishes are centered on fish, farm vegetables   and fruits, chicken and occasionally other meats, supplemented with rice and rice based local breads like appam,   string hoppers, etc. Some of the specialties are smashed tapioca with kerala style fish curry (of course with less   chilly!), Nellikka arishtam (vine prepared with Gooseberry in honey or in jaggery), Passion fruit syrup/squash are   always available as an option.

In matters of food, freshness is more important than dressing and presentation. And from the furniture to the towels to the landscaping, the first purpose has been to stay true to the environment, not to provide opulence and gadget- based luxuries

First built in 1860, the traditional Kerala house offered to the guests is impeccably restored; aesthetically furnished and well appointed with state of the art facilities.

The villa is a typical traditional Kerala house; wood thatched roof, beautifully carved and crafted doors, good ventilation, spacious sit out, clean and spacious modern bathroom. TVs and telephones are not available in the villa, but are available in the residence. The villa is well furnished with beds, cupboards, writing tables, chairs etc. Extra beds are available if needed. The floor is furnished in rustic clay tiles and the ceiling is a testimony of the past Keralan carpenter’s craftsmanship.

•In designing the villa, they kept in mind all the traditional features, and also the fact that there designing a house and not a ‘hotel’ room. When all this is combined with the traditional, homely atmosphere, hospitality, you cannot be faulted if you think that it is your second home.

The 'Honeymoon nest' is a small and beautifully thatched pavilion on stilts facing to the fabulous view of Tamil nadu valley is a honeymooner's dream. This has a sleeping chamber and a small toilet. It also offers an ideal setting and is inspiring for serious writers, artists and ardent nature lovers.