YathraKit

  For several months, my wife and I had been planning a trip that included a stay surrounded by forest. But, like many travel plans, ours kept getting postponed for one reason or another. Finally, when the Onam vacation arrived in 2026, we decided that this time the trip had to happen. Our destination was Pazhathottam Log House, in the Anamudi Shola National Park region near Vattavada. We were not looking for another hotel or a typical hill-station trip. The idea of staying close to the Shola forest, surrounded by the unique landscapes of the Western Ghats, was what made this destination special for us. The Shola forests of the Western Ghats are very different from the forests most of us imagine. Dense evergreen patches sit between rolling mountain grasslands, creating a landscape that changes as you travel through the high ranges. These forests are also an important part of the region's biodiversity and water system, which made the thought of staying there even more exciting. Beca...