A profound silence amplifies nature's symphony as we enter Beyond Eco-Living, a forest retreat set amidst the lush embrace of the Valara - Neriamanagalm corridor in the Western Ghats Mountains. Surrounded by an extraordinarily beautiful landscape that comprises dense rainforests, rivers, sprightly waterfalls and mountain top villages, the resort offers all requisite amenities and comforts that guests would expect in an authentic nature getaway.
Entering the resort, walking past clumps of young bamboo and a pond, climbing uphill over a rock strewn path, guests are welcomed at a quaint reception, situated beside an open to the air dining area and room for indoor games, decorated with artefacts made by rural artisans from the area. At the end of a slope opposite the reception, in a clearing between lush vegetation and beneath overhanging trees, approached by a little bridge over a rivulet, a complement of modernistic rooms and a suite are situated in a block over two floors with beautiful views of the surrounding vegetation.
Higher up, past rows of colourful flowers, the slope plateaus on a clearing within view of a rising. Towards one end of the clearing, a cluster of cottages are situated, designed with influences of rural architecture in the area, featuring sloping roofs, cosy verandas and earth toned, roughly textured, plastered walls. Further ahead, the path slopes through foliage, descending towards a swimming pool and a roofed, open to the air dining area.
Beneath the gaze of the hilltop in front of the row of cottages, a roughly fashioned table is set beside a bullock cart and flanked by a pair of benches, ideal for breakfasts and candlelit dinners. Roughly hewn steps lead to a clearing that is a space for outdoor games. Going further, overlooking a natural pond, an open-air pavilion provides a serene setting for yoga and meditation. Here, guests could opt to indulge in a spot of lake fishing as well.
Each day at Beyond Eco-Living is a gift of an experience granted by nature. The seasons ebb and flow, bird calls herald glorious sunrises and serenade sunsets, and then a symphony that stretches time through a day, accompanied by the wind, the rustle of leaves, the swaying branches of trees and multitudes of insects in the undergrowth that lend their voices. As a day winds down towards dusk, the retreat renews itself, into a space for contemplative connection.