Treehouse vacation at Vythiri, Kerala, India

1 Feb 2002

I spent 24 hours in a treehouse in Kerela, India. And it was heavenly.

I had wanted to do the treehouse ever since I started reading about it in the newspapers and magazines. About how there is this treehouse 90 feet high on a huge tree, how it has become so popular internationally.. Their website could not give me much information beyond a few photographs. But they were good enough.

During our discussions on where to go during our honeymoon, I suggested the treehouse to my wife-to-be and she agreed pretty quick. The cost was a little high - Rs 7000 for a night (US $ 140) for us, but we both thought it was worth it.

The treehouse is a true treehouse - not a stupid log cabin built on stilts. It has two floors, all made of boards and bamboo, without driving any nails at all into the tree. It's all tied together, and holds very well too. The treehouse has two floors, and there is always someone staying on the other floor. Each floor has a bedroom, a flushing toilet (at 90 ft.!) and you have a terrace too. See the picture to get a better idea.

Located deep into thickly growing jungle, you are picked up by Jeep and take a few 100 feet up a twisting road. Their, totally secluded from any visible population, an elephant and the manager of the treehouse welcomes you.

There are a few cottages below, where you can dump your luggage and have a bath.

At any time, there are only 4-6 visitors there, apart from the staff. Mostly foreigners who want to spend a peaceful vacation, the guests talk softly, stay to themselves apart from smiling at you, and are definitely out of everyone's way.

The food is typical Kerala, with both vegetarian and non vegetarian items. I am no foodie, but take it from me that it is great stuff.

To get to the treehouse, there is a unique elevator working using a sack of water as a counterweight. It takes around 15 minutes for the water to fill up, and then you are escorted to a basket that will be your elevator, quite like in the old Phantom comics! The staff pull you up, and you gingerly step out of the lift on to your floor when you reach the top.

At night, light is by means of kerosene lamps at the top. The feeling is delightful, when you can see the few lights of the cottages below. I swigged generously from my bottle of cheap wine. No soft drinks or alchohol are provided, but you can get your own.

When you need to come down from the top, you holler. The staff responds, starts the water-filling process and gets the elevator-basket ready, and you are hauled down in some 15 minutes.

There is enough to enjoy a few days trekking around if you want, and the resort's own elephant Ammu will be happy to give you a ride in exchange for bananas.

If you need to spend a few days in total isolation, the treehouse is the best way to do it. You will have to book in advance though as their fame has spread far and wide through newspaper reports in several magazines in India and abroad. If you are interested, use the feedback form link above to email me at lawdgawd@yahoo.com and I shall send you the contact details.