Top 10 Eco-friendly Hotels in South India

There are a couple of times when you don’t want to do anything but pack your bags and land on the steps of a pretty hotel atop a hill or beside the beach and garage yourself there and do your own things. Maybe, not do anything at all; Catch a glimpse of the sunrise, laze around, walk purposelessly down the pretty drive way, read the books you so wanted to but could not find time to on the terrace garden, do yoga or cycle around a pretty locale nearby. And while doing all these you want to have an experience of a life time. The best way to relax and yet gain something substantial is to lodge in an eco friendly hotel. It is a wholesome experience that you can cherish for years to come. And here goes my list of top 10 eco-friendly hotels in South India to help you beat the untraded path.

Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom

The air whiffed up by the Kerala spices and the glistening water of canals criss-crossing 30 acres land welcome you enticingly when you set your feet on Coconut Lagoon situated in the Kuttanad district of Kerala. Its villas are furnished with furniture sourced from traditional homes and local craftsmen, with some of the buildings having been transplanted from heritage mansions across Kerala. These are interspersed with beautiful green spaces such as a butterfly garden and a traditional forested area known as the “Sacred Grove”. Over eight acres are used for rice cultivation, especially of the medicinal “njwara” variety. Besides being home to countless water birds such as the Darter, it also helps in the conservation of the world’s smallest cow, the Vechoor. Other local community initiatives include a weekly cleaning initiative to clear the garbage of the neighbouring village. The resort also has a composting plant to convert waste to manure, and offers rides on its solar-powered boat. You can try your hand at canoeing on the canals, coconut husking, or watching a Kalari wrestling match in the morning.

Karuna Farm, Kodaikanal

Karuna is surrounded by forests and peaks on either side, with paths for a short forest stroll or an all day trek, with spectacular views, tropical forest and wildlife, a perfect setting to heal the battered soul. At Karuna Farm, you can get one with nature without giving up on the basic city comfort. At Karuna they don't use electricity from the national grid. All power is sourced from solar energy and hydroelectric power. The climate and water resources are good for cultivation all through the year. The potential is good. Various systems of organic farming are being practiced. At present 20 varieties of fruits are growing. 

SwaSwara, Gokarna, Karnataka

Situated along Gokarna’s beautiful Om Beach, SwaSwara’s goal is to create balance and harmony with the mind and the soul. Guests can try morning yoga on the beaches, meditation, Ayurvedic massages and treatments, pottery classes or Warli painting at the art studio, and learn cooking from the chef. The resort practices vermicomposting, rainwater harvesting, along with recycling waste water in the garden, and turning kitchen and solid waste into biogas for cooking and organic fertilizers. In addition, one-third of the staff is hired locally, with community programs for neighboring schools and self-help groups.

Dune Eco Village & Spa, Pondicherry

Spread across 35 acres on a beach near Pondicherry, the Dune Eco Village & Spa is an oasis of calm and well-being. All its 55 bungalows use solar water systems, low consumption bulbs and organic linen. Many have been built from local colonial houses, planters’ mansions and Chettinad palaces, and several forego air-conditioning for refreshing sea breeze. The Dune also has a seven acre organic farm—equipped with its own composting yard—which supplies fresh produce for the in-house Fun restaurant.

Banasura Hill Resort, Wayanad, Kerala

Asia's largest "Earth" resort, Banasura is predominantly constructed from mud known as rammed earth. Its 31 rooms are nestled on a 35 acre eco-friendly farm, surrounded by rich nature. You can enjoy hiking through the countryside to visit waterfalls, caves, and a tribal village. The resort also has a rejuvenating Ayurvedic spa.

Our Native Village, Bangalore, Karnataka

Have you ever wondered what life in an Indian village is like? You can get a taste of it at Our Native Village, around one hour from Bangalore. Our Native Village is a fantastic place for a family holiday with a difference! The resort offers a range of unique activities such as cow milking, bullock cart rides, kite flying, bicycle riding, organic farming. Comforts aren't overlooked though. The resort's Soul Spa is the perfect place to rejuvenate.

Elephant Valley, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu

This 100 acre nature reserve and organic farm has a stunning location on an old pachyderm migration route in the Pani Hills of Tamil Nadu. Even though Kodaikanal is just 20 km away, you’ll want to stay put in this paradisaical resort. Its 20 eco-friendly bungalows are built with local materials such as granite, reclaimed doors and wood, and equipped with solar lights, low consumption bulbs, cast iron wood stoves and firewood fuelled hot water showers. Each has its own private garden, overlooking the Gangavaar River and the pesticide-free coffee plantation. Guests are offered fresh food made with produce from the organic garden and steaming cups of local filter coffee. Don't forget to take a nature walk to see the local wildlife, birds and plant life.

Spice Village, Thekkady, Kerala

Stretched across a misty hilly ridge, Spice Village is only a short distance away from the Periyar Tiger Reserve. There are over 140 varieties of trees spread across its 14 acres, along with a spice garden and organic vegetable farm. All the food cooked in its kitchen is sourced within a 50 mile radius, Guests can go on nature walks and night treks, take a day trip to the neighboring pepper plantation, learn traditional recipes, go bird watching or fishing. The entire estate is chemical-free—natural oils, plants and camphor are used pesticides and insecticides. Every day, waste is segregated and recycled in the in-house vermicompost plant to make organic manure for the vegetable and herbal gardens.

Karadi Malai Camp, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu

All activities at Karadi Malai Camp, a little over an hour’s drive from Chennai, are geared towards making visitors comfortable around wildlife. The owners (famous herpetologist-conservationist Romulus Whitaker and his wife Janaki Lenin) and staff encourage visitors to explore the nearby Vallam Reserve Forest. The fit can go for a relatively strenuous hike up the Karadi Malai Hill (700 feet), identifying birds like the spotted owl and paradise flycatcher, and snakes like the Russell’s viper, common krait, and rat snake. A more leisurely walk winds through the forest towards nearby paddy fields, and helps guests understand the interaction between forest and farm ecosystems. Some of these are conducted by members of the Irula tribal community, who, with Whitaker’s help, have switched from being snake hunters to conservationists. The camp has three cottages made with bamboo matting and timber. Each of these solar-powered cottages is surrounded by a moat, which ensures that the property’s snakes and smaller animals let you sleep in peace.

Rainforest Retreat at Mojo Plantation, Coorg, Karnataka

The rainforest retreat at Mojo Plantation is a unique project that combines ecotourism with sustainable agriculture and environment education. The certified organic spice farm, in one of the most natural and scenic parts of Kodagu District, was founded in 1994 by Sujata and Anurag Goel. The botanist couple wished to “explore an organic way of life and a more harmonious existence with nature” and “cater to environmentally conscious and intellectually curious travelers”. The two cottages sit surrounded by bamboo, banana, and fragrant coffee and orange plants, and are lit by eco-friendly 12V solar lights. The plantation’s wide population of creepy-crawlies—including spiders, wasps, dragonflies, frogs, lizards, and snakes—contribute towards a diverse and healthy agri-ecosystem. All organic waste makes its way to the retreat’s biogas plant that powers the kitchen. The rest is composted and used to fertilize crops of coffee, kokum, cardamom, and vanilla, which are also available for sale. There are fine birding and trekking routes around the plantation: A peek around the backyard will reveal wonders like the Atlas moth (the largest of the species), yellow caterpillars, and even a Malabar gliding frog’s foam nest. The forest is at its greenest between September and November.