Hotel Review - Thotadahalli Home Stay, Chikmagalur

The concept of a home stay is different from a hotel. The owner of the property is inviting you to their home as their guest. They will show you their style of living, give you food as per their cuisine and give you a cultural insight into the lives of the locals to some extent.
Having said that, a lot depends on the owners of the place. In many cases they are not even present there, but not at Thotadahalli Home stay.



Getting here might be a little confusing so read carefully-
Take the road from Chikmagalur to Shimoga till you reach Kaimara. From there the first left turn goes to Mullayangiri, don't turn onto this road. Instead continue further in Kaimara and ask someone for directions, a small turn to your left going down will drive down towards the Estate, about 3-4 kms on.

The Homestay is within a large estate and the moment you enter towards the main entrance, there is likely to be a smile on your face.
A beautifully maintained garden welcomes you, not to mention the extra ordinary collection of Bonsai that the owner Pallavi maintains. Her husband Prakash greets you like you are extended family, and takes time to get to know you better.
He is one of those pleasing personalities who will really go out of the way to make you comfortable and make sure you have a good time. He will guide you around town and suggest places to see, even pushing you on to try some more of their food, as enthusiastic as one can get.






The property itself is brilliant. I have no doubt this is one of the best home stays in Karnataka.
Very neatly maintained and each item in the house looks handpicked personally. As you can see in the images here, it leaves a lasting impression on you.
They have 6 rooms only, 2 of which are inside the house and they have 4 cottages near the dining area and kitchen. Each room is slightly different from the other, so you can speak to the owners and try selecting a room of your choice if available.

The other important factor about staying here is the fact that food is included as part of your stay, so there is no other option as Chikmagalur town will also be about 30 minutes drive and there's no great choice there either.
They serve authentic malnad cuisine and don't go out of the way to try and make exotic dishes. Sticking to their roots, they excel in their cooking and the food is delightful. Even my north Indian wife really enjoyed the food.
Meals are to be had in the dining area only, so all guests can gather up around a bonfire, have a few drinks and share some conversation along with the meal. It's a pleasant experience unless you are really keen on your privacy.


Another factor to note is it might not suit everyone's need. If you are looking at full privacy and service at your beck and call, you will be disappointed. There is also no A.C or T.V in the room for the urban couch potatoes.
It is a rustic and wholesome stay and ideal for those looking for complete relaxation and a change from the usual.

Value for money component is good enough as a room for a couple is charged at Rs. 5500 per night, but that includes all meals and tea/coffee etc. This also includes stay and food for your driver.
They will accommodate your requests wherever possible, but the thing to remember is they are not doing this for money and it's not a hotel, so respect your premises and the people there. All the staff are very friendly and helpful, which made this stay a memorable one.

Looking forward to visit this place again soon with family/friends.

Rating - 4.5/5