Welcome to Elathottam!

‘Ela’ is short for ‘elakka’ which means cardamom and ‘thottam’ translates to the word plantation. And that’s just what Elathottam is – a home stay on a fully operational cardamom estate perched at a height of over 4100 feet above sea level.

Any visit to India would be incomplete without a little sojourn into ‘Gods own country’, Kerala. Located at the southern tip of India, Kerala is a fast emerging tourist destination and holiday spot. In the heart of Central Kerala is a dense tropical forest called the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Known for its abundant wildlife and lush vegetation, the Periyar Wildlife Reserve in Thekkady, is a tourist’s delight. 10 kms before Thekkady, bordering the Periyar Tiger Reserve, a little path diverges from the main road and disappears through a labyrinth of trees. A dirt track hewn into the side of the mountain takes you high up into the clouds right up to Elathottam, or Mullayar Estate (Top), as its been called for the last 5 decades. So, if you’re asking for directions, be sure to ask for Mullayar Estate(Top).

The Estate Bungalow

In a little clearing in the heart of the estate is a quaint little cottage, built over half a century ago out of granite and still used as an estate bungalow. Besides its old world charm and rustic simplicity, the cottage offers a ringside view of vast stretches of soft clouds, thickly layered atop verdant hilltops. Spectacular vistas of endlessly undulating slopes; unforgettable sunsets and sunrises; undisturbed tranquility and unparalleled oneness with nature; Elathottam is a veritable Paradise amidst misty and mountainous surroundings.

A Quick Tour

Lush fronds thickly laden with ripe cardamom bedeck every trail you take through this estate. A short descent through these broad leafed bushes brings you to a sparkling fish pond. Carefully culled out of granite and stone, here’s where you can enjoy peaceful hours of utter serenity with only the geese for company and the reflection of the deep blue sky in the stillness of the water. An exciting ride down almost 1000 feet in an open SUV leads you to yet another breathtaking sight – a water reservoir that is almost 34 feet deep. Numerous shoals of gliding fish make this a perfect venue for a lazy afternoon of quiet angling. The world is a very different place beside these emerald waters.