Mekanagadde Homestay

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Category: Family Vacation

A Memorable Family Trip to Mekanagadde Homestay
Me Riya Sharma and our 5 family were looking for a relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. We wanted to experience the beauty and tranquility of nature, and enjoy some quality time together. We decided to book a stay at Mekanagadde Homestay after Googling and finalized it, a cozy and comfortable place nestled in the Western Ghats of Karnataka.
We arrived at the homestay after a scenic drive through the lush green hills and paddy fields. We were greeted by the friendly hosts, who welcomed us with a warm smile and a refreshing fruit drink🍹. The hosts showed us around the property, which had a rustic charm and a homely vibe🏠. The rooms were spacious and clean, with all the amenities we needed. The homestay also had a common area where we all could talk, play games, or read books.
The next day, we woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the foggy hills surrounding property. We had a delicious breakfast of traditional dishes, Akki Rotti and Kesa. We then decided to go for a trekking adventure, guided by Vinay one of the localite who take care of the guest. We explored the nearby forest, where we saw various flora and fauna, and enjoyed the panoramic views of the mountains and valleys. We also visited a water stream gushing, where we splashed in the cool water and took some pictures.
After the trekking, we returned to the homestay for a relaxing lunch🍲. We then went for a coffee plantation tour on jeep, where we learned about the history and culture of coffee growing in the region. We also used to get filter coffee when we asked for, which was aromatic and flavorful. We bought some coffee beans as souvenirs for our other friends and family.
In the evening, we enjoyed a bonfire and barbecue at the homestay. We roasted chicken, sang songs, and chattered stories circling bonfire with family. We also had a mouthwatering dinner of local Malnad style🍛, cooked by the hosts. We thanked them for their hospitality and praised their food.
We retired to our rooms, feeling happy and content. We slept soundly, dreaming of our wonderful trip. We woke up the next day, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. We packed our bags and bid farewell to the hosts and little dogs😊 (accompanied us everywhere). We thanked them for our memorable stay and promised to come back again.
We drove back to the city, feeling grateful for our family trip to Mekanagadde Homestay. We had experienced nature, adventure, culture, and food in a unique way. We had also bonded with our family more and had plans for next holiday trip. We agreed that it was one of our best trips ever.
– Riya Sharma & Family
Blogger
Bengaluru
May 20, 2023
Things to do Before Going on Vacation
Going on vacation is a great way to relax, have fun, and explore new places. But before you pack your bags and head to the destination, there are some things you need to do to prepare for your trip. Here are some tips on what to do before going on vacation, so you can enjoy your time away without any worries.
Plan your budget and itinerary
One of the first things you need to do before going on vacation is to plan your budget and itinerary. How much money do you want to spend on your trip? What are the main attractions and activities you want to see and do? How will you get around and where will you stay? Having a clear idea of your budget and itinerary will help you avoid overspending, missing out on important sights, or wasting time on transportation.
Book your transportation and accommodation
Once you have your budget and itinerary, you need to book your flights and accommodation. Compare different airlines and travel websites to find the best deals and options for your dates and destination. Make sure to read the reviews, cancellation policies, and terms and conditions before booking anything. Also, don’t forget to print or save your confirmation emails and tickets.
Check your travel documents
Another important thing to do before going on vacation is to check your passport, visa, and travel insurance. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your return date and has enough blank pages for stamps. If you need a visa for your destination, apply for it well in advance and follow the requirements carefully. Also, get a travel insurance policy that covers medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and other emergencies. Pack smartly and lightly.
Pack smartly and lightly
Packing smartly and lightly is one of the best things you can do before going on vacation. Not only will it save you space, time, and money, but it will also make your trip more comfortable and enjoyable. To pack smartly and lightly, follow these steps:
- Make a packing list of the essentials you need for your trip, such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, electronics, documents, etc.
- Check the weather forecast, dress code, and cultural norms of your destination and pack accordingly.
- Choose versatile, wrinkle-resistant, and easy-to-wash items that can be mixed and matched.
- Use packing cubes or bags to organize your items by category and compress them.
- Roll or fold your clothes neatly to prevent wrinkles and save space.
- Pack your heaviest items at the bottom of your suitcase and fill the gaps with smaller items.
- Wear your bulkiest items on the plane to free up space in your luggage.
- Pack a carry-on bag with your essentials, such as passport, wallet, phone, charger, headphones, snacks, water bottle, etc.
Prepare your home for your absence
The last thing you want to do before going on vacation is to prepare your home for your absence. This will ensure that your home is safe, secure, and welcoming when you return. Here are some things you can do to prepare your home for your absence:
- Clean up your house and get rid of any trash or perishable food.
- Unplug any unnecessary appliances and electronics to save energy and prevent fire hazards.
- Adjust your thermostat and water heater to save energy and prevent damage.
- Lock all doors and windows and set up a security system or alarm if you have one.
- Ask a friend or neighbor to check on your house regularly, collect your mail, water your plants, feed your pets, etc.
- Leave a spare key with someone you trust in case of emergencies.
May 17, 2023
Focus on These Four Factors to Make the Most of a Vacation
Ask five people what their idea of an awesome vacation is and you might get five different answers. Everyone understands the main point, which is to recharge and recover from the stresses of everyday life, but what you focus on when you take vacation could impact its overall restorative effect.
There are four major factors, based on the findings of sociologists from German’s University of Konstanz, that make a vacation truly beneficial. Some are more obvious than others:
- Relaxation: This is the whole point of vacation. What you do shouldn’t feel like work. It should give you “positive energy” instead.
- Control: When your other time is filled with demands of bosses and family members, regaining control during your vacation is liberating. You decide how to make use of your leisure time, energy, and attention.
- Mastery Experiences: You spend time doing the things you’re good at. This could be challenging and engaging, like chess.
- Mental Detachment from Work: This is pretty straightforward. You might take a smart phone or laptop with you “just in case,” but we all know how counterproductive that’ll be.
As the article notes:
Breaks that are high in all four are the equivalent of nutritious and nourishing meals; those that aren’t are like empty calories.
Interestingly, your happiness levels seem to shoot up fastest in the first couple of days of vacation and peak around a week into it. Then it stagnates or dips a bit in the days beyond that. This is to say that maybe you don’t need to accumulate weeks and weeks of vacation time when a week of time-off with those four factors could also do you a world of good.
January 12, 2017
Adventure Dads
Cycling, running, scuba diving, travel – New Age dads are bonding with their kids through adventure and a spirit of sportsmanship
Did your outdoor pursuits end after the kids arrived? By eliminating activity from your life after fatherhood, you are actually removing the factor most likely to spur you children to grow into healthy adults: you as an example or role model. A study by a non-profit organization found that 75 per cent of kids aged 6 to 12 years, who participate in adventure sports are simply copying their parents. This means your first act as a dad is to walk out of the front door!
No, not the way you think. We are talking adventure. Outdoors. Travel. Life lessons. “Our culture of convenience has come with a hefty price. Children are moving less, spending most of their sitting or lying down, giving raise to multiple mental, physical and social problems,” says clinical psychologist Dr Seema Hongorrany. That’s where some dads are coming handy.
Building Memories
When fathers spend a good amount of time doing a fun activity with their kids, they are able to draw common memories and experiences, pass a lifetime of learning they possess and set an example by being an active role model.
The trick is to get your child to balance academics with outdoor activities. Time spent outdoors help children reboot before getting back to the usual home-to-school routine. It encourages creativity and willingness to do well.
A recent study titled, Influence of parents’ Physical Activity Levels on Activity Levels of Young Children, found that children of active and energetic fathers are 3.5 times more active than children of inactive fathers.
Passing Essential Life Skills
Outdoor activities have much more to teach a child about what it means to live a wholesome life. According to family education study, the most influential factor in a child’s emotional health is how involved the father was in the child’s care when he was young. Children who have involved fathers are more likely to be emotionally secure, confident about exploring their physical surroundings, and have better social connections. “When a child is around a father who loves being outdoors, the child is likely to be a lot more empathetic. Moreover, it improves their resilience and helps them develop grit, tenacity, perseverance, fairness, integrity and responsibility. It rewires the brain for learning, helps build social intelligence and above all, introduces respect for limits and boundaries. Thus, activity is a matchless opportunity to connect with your children and teach them valuable life skills,” adds Hingorrany.
In a digital age, taking children outdoors and letting them learn from nature and their surroundings is not a choice but a necessity. That apart, nature outings and adventure let children become aware of nature and its beauty from an early age. Says Shah, “When the child is walking amid beautiful flora and fauna, they value the beauty of nature a lot more. Nature lets children deal with their fears in a healthy way.
June 19, 2016
Country Roads to Village Vacation
Find life in its most unfiltered form at a village vacation this year
We are eating ancient grains, wearing indigenous clothing, cooking from grandma’s recipes and gradually putting life in slow gear. There is a universal yearning to go back to the roots, to live a less complicated and de-cluttered life. While some people have been able to slow down their everyday madness, others simply look for it elsewhere….
The Alternative Route
Travel trends confirm that more and more people are cutting away from the lure of big cities and their trappings and taking a detour towards small towns and villages on their travels in India and abroad. Be it a spectacular Swiss village or an enchanting Northeastern hamlet, pastoral charm is swaying travellers. “What’s the in going from one frenzied city to another? The whole point of vacation is to find some vacant mind space – and you get a lot of it in rustic setting,” says Delhi-based website designer Nitin Moudgil. “I find a village holiday a better substitute for a full body detox. You can get your fix to clean air, give your lungs a good scrub, stock up on homegrown fresh produce and flush out all the mental toxins!” he adds. In fact, a rustic holiday can be so much more. It could be a walking vacation, exploring the ethnicity of the place on foot or a vacation in sync with a music fest or annual cultural procession. You could stay with a local artisan and learn a native craft or check into heritage homestay and enjoy a bit of luxury in the middle of nowhere.
Go Local
From misty Himalayan hamlets and the sunny north Indian countryside to the arty heritage villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan, it really takes a village to see India in its characteristic colours. “There is a growing desire amongst city dwellers to reconnect to their roots and enjoy the tranquillity and cultural refreshment offered by traditional rural environments,” shares Manisha Pande of Village Ways, a social enterprise with the specific aim of promoting rural livelihoods through community tourism in Binsar villages, Mothakkara village in Kerala, villages in Satpurs and Pench amongst others. On their tours, they offer guests seasonal food bursting with flavours, leisurely walks from village to village, night stays at different guest houses with well-informed guides to update you on the wildlife and rural cultural life. Sometimes it’s just for that one pure food experience that you head to village – dollops of fresh white butter, chicken saaru on the neer dosa and kadubu with pork.
May 22, 2016
Have You Taken a GENERVACATION?
Take a 3G holiday. No, we aren’t talking phone connectivity. Rather a real one with three generations – your children, your parents and you
When was the last time you had real heart-to-heart with your mom or dad, stole some quiet moments where you could reconnect with either of them, like you used to ask as a child? With children of your own, work pressure, marriage responsibilities all weighting in, one hardly has the time to connect with his or her parents. In nuclear families, children miss out on the unique bond with grandparents as they often stay far off or in different cities.
But ‘genervacation’ or ‘multi-generationational family trips’ is changing all that. Recent research suggests that more and more people are going on holiday with three or more generations of their family. In fact, during the last 12 months, an astonishing 20.8 million US travelers have taken at least one multigenerational trip!
You get to travel with your parents and children to far-off-destination, where your mind is away from your regular life, and you get the chance to bond as a family – a whole family. It could be both sets of grandparents, and even include your favorite uncles and aunts.
Says travel blogger Bhushavali, “ With growing disposable incomes, and traveling being such a vital part of people’s lives, youngsters and elders can find many platforms to make travel a unique experience together. The joy of discovering new places and having shared memories makes these trips exciting for all age groups.
The fun of inter-generational travel is about overcoming age and personality differences. Writes Linda Morgan, author of Beyond Smart: Boosting Your Child’s Social, Emotional, and inter-generational, and Academic Potential, “You can’t engineer an inter-generational vacation that goes off without a hitch. Anticipate them but it should encourage you to travel together rather keep you from it.”
Delhi-based couple Mandip and Anita Singh Soin travel with their two children frequently. Says Anita, “Genervacation is wonderful idea. Older kids don’t need looking after. It gives you the opportunity to bond and take care of your parents at the same time. We all have hectic lives and it’s rare chance for us to live alongside each other as a family again – to have time for proper conversations and just be relaxed with each other. Also, when different generations travel together, they share and develop a better, much larger, worldview.”
Another major reason a huge trend 3G vacations are becoming a huge trend these days is that today’s grandparents are in far better shape travel to far-off locales.
March 20, 2016
Benefits of Staying at a Homestay in Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur
There’s a saying, “Athithi Devo Bhava”, which means “the guest is God”. Specially in Karnataka it’s a huge honor to have guests in our homes and please them. Our hospitality is no were in the world. Sadly, most travellers first finds to stay in hotels, never get to experience true malnad hospitality. The good news is that everything is gradually changing as a result of growing popularity of homestays in Chikmagalur and Sakleshpur.
Staying in homestay is better than staying at resorts
Staying at a homestay is a great way to experience the culture and lifestyle of a destination, while saving money and enjoying more comfort and convenience than a resort. Here are some reasons why you should choose a homestay over a resort for your next trip:
- A homestay is more personal and friendly than a resort. You can interact with the host family, learn about their customs and traditions, and get insider tips on the best places to visit and eat. A resort, on the other hand, is more impersonal and formal, with standardized services and facilities that may not suit your preferences or needs.
- A homestay is more authentic and immersive than a resort. You can live like a local, eat home-cooked meals, participate in daily activities, and explore hidden gems that are off the beaten track. A resort, on the other hand, is more isolated and artificial, with a touristy atmosphere and a limited exposure to the local culture and environment.
- A homestay is more affordable and flexible than a resort. You can find a homestay that fits your budget and expectations, with different options for amenities, location, and duration. You can also negotiate the price and conditions with the host directly, without any intermediaries or commissions. A resort, on the other hand, is more expensive and rigid, with fixed rates and policies that may not match your requirements or plans.
A homestay is similar to bed and breakfast concept. They are accommodated in the own home, or in separate guest house. Nowadays, most homestays provide guests as much comfort as reputable hotel do.
1. Unique and Characterful Accommodation – Tired of sterile hotels? There better way to experience the incredibly diversity and charm of Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur at a homestay. The options are almost endless and include plantation bungalows, historic mansions, and remote rural cottages.
2. Personalized Service – In contrast to a hotel, a homestay usually only has a few rooms. The family who resides there runs it, and acts as host. This guarantees that guests receive plenty of individual attention. You can spend as little or as much time with the host family as you like. Some guests choose only to dine with them, while others spend hours chatting to them. Regardless, staying with an malnad family is the easiest way of finding out about Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur culture and way of life. Many guests and hosts find that they bond with each other so much, that they keep in touch long after the vacation is over.
3. Local Knowledge — The wealth of information that the hosts have about their local area makes deciding what to see and do a breeze. Such local knowledge is extremely helpful in getting the most from your visit. Many hosts are delighted to show their guests around their local area.
4. Home Cooked Food — There is a huge difference between the malnad food served in restaurants and hotels, and the food that’s cooked in Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur homestay. By staying at a homestay, you’ll be able to taste authentic malnad home cooked food. Some homestays even welcome their guests into their kitchen, and let them watch and participate in the cooking process.
5. Unique Activities — As a guest at a homestay, activities will vary depending on location. Exploring a coffee plantation in Chikmagalur, watching birds, herding animals, village visits, picnics, and temple tours.
Those who prefer their privacy may feel more relaxed at a homestay that has separate accommodations for guests, rather than rooms in the family home.
September 21, 2015