Transiting through Chennai and don't care for the city? This is just for you.
Herpetologist and wildlife film presenter Romulus Whitaker '60 and writer Janaki Lenin have set up a campsite and cottages on their farm near the town of Chengalpattu, about 50 kilometres south of the city of Chennai. Their farm, half surrounded by Vallam Reserve Forest, a remnant of once expansive Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest, is rich in birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Accommodation in airy cottages, simple, wholesome home-cooked food, a swimming pool, and access to Irula tribal knowledge all add up to the kind of comfortable wildness you yearn for. For more details and booking reservations, please contact us.
Cottages*
Three bamboo cottages on stilts. Wooden floors. Double or single beds. En suite modern bathrooms. A sit-out to watch birds.
Bookings will be secured by 100% advance payment.
Activities*
* Walks in the tropical dry evergreen forest
* Night walks to set infra-red camera-traps and observe nocturnal creatures
* Day visits to nearby attractions less than an hour's drive:
1. Madras Crocodile Bank - One of the world's largest crocodile farms with over 2,000 crocodilians of 18 different species, snakes and turtles/tortoises. The Irula 'Venom Center' is also located here.
2. Dakshina Chitra - A heritage centre featuring traditional architecture of South India with stalls displaying/selling local arts and crafts.
3. Mahabalipuram - World famous 9th Century Pallava and Chola Dynasties' stone sculptures and friezes, famous for their fine detail and originality. Good sea food available here too!
4. Irula Tribal Women's Society - A tribal self-help institution specializing in Irula knowledge of medicinal and food plants and reafforestation activities.
5. Thirukalikundram hill temple - A hilltop temple complex and a cave temple has Portuguese graffiti from the 16th century! For fit people, as the climb up granite steps is steep and done barefoot.
6. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary - A 'must see' haven for tens of thousands migratory water birds during the winter in late October through March.
* Taxi fare to and from the airport in Chennai is INR. 1500 each way.
* For details and reservations contact Janaki Lenin at +91 80120 33087 or at janaki@gmail.com
Come visit us!