Ajjanamane - A Malnad homestay

2023 will be a year to remember for us - especially for our India vacation. We were desperately missing trips in India and enjoy Indian hospitality and tasty vegetarian food. So this year, we decided to spend a month long Indian vacation to get enough time for Varsha to spend with grand parents and for us to go on trips in South India. The places on our final shortlist were Kumarakom, Thiruvananthapuram, day trip in Bengaluru, Sakleshpur, Jog Falls and Shivamogga.

As part of the Jog Falls trip, we picked a unique place to stay - Ajjanamane. Located 5km from Talguppa station, the rail terminal closest to Jog Falls in Shimoga district, Ajjanamane is a traditional Malnad home with 3 rooms that can accommodate 14 people, large living room and kitchen built in traditional architecture with natural lighting through the roof. The stay includes all the meals that are prepared from locally sourced fresh vegetables. Note that it is a Brahmin, pure vegetarian family and expect only satvik food. Nevertheless, it was exactly what we wished for. 

We opted for the Mysore Talguppa Express that takes us to the homestay on time to enjoy a sumptuous lunch. Our host connected us with a local Innova taxi driver, Mr Shridharan, who was ready for us at the Talguppa station. With lush greenery, overlooking mountains, fresh after a monsoon shower and hardly 50 people getting down at this last stop, Talguppa gives you a dreamy vibe of a quaint village.

After an authentic Malnad lunch with rice, chapati, bamboo shoot sambar, bitter gourd fry and many more dishes made of exotic vegetables, you will certainly need a nap in the cool interiors of the homestay. You can enjoy the nap on a swing too, that is available in each of the rooms. Take a stroll through the countryside and you can see a village pond with ducks, banana and coconut plantation, paddy fields and aqueducts transporting water for irrigation. Don't forget to be back to Ajjanamane for delicious filter coffee and tasty capsicum bajji filled with a quirky twist of grated carrots garnished with lemon and coriander leaves. 

In the evening, Siri (as Mr Shridharan calls himself) took us to Gouswarga, a cow shelter for old and stray cows. Appreciate the noble work at this non-profit organization, where you can see hundreds of cows being fed as they spend their old age, beyond economic use for the villagers.

Food, food and food is the motto of staying at a homestay, true to the meaning of its name - Ajjanamane means grandmother's home. It will remind you of your school vacations at your grandmother's home having a gala time with cousins, uncles and aunts. After dinner, relax with some board games oblivious to the chaotic outside world.  Specially for me, I was elated by the board game called Thayakattam, an Indian version of Ludo. 30 years ago I would constantly be teased by my uncle and aunt when I lost in the game repeatedly. This time, it was my daughter's turn to be the centre of attraction. Such is life!

Next morning, we were off to Jog falls after breakfast - a dedicated blog on it soon - and definitely back at Ajjanamane for lunch. 

Now you get the feel of it.. It is all about homely food and hospitality that we will be in our memories for a long time to come.

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