Gonakal Homestay

A home away from home! Had one of the most beautiful experiences staying at Gonakal Homestay.The view outside the rooms are mesmerising!The hosts and their hospitality are remarkable!Aunty so full of warmth! makes the most delicious food and uncle is always available for any requests, gave wonderful suggestions to explore the area around.Last but not the least the staff who maintain the place made sure our stay was memorable.They have 3 adorable pets :) Would definitely visit again for a much needed break !

I had an absolutely fantastic stay at the home stay! The luxurious accommodations, impeccable service, and breathtaking views exceeded all expectations. Every staff member was attentive and went above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. The amenities, from the spa to the dining options, were top-notch. I can't recommend this resort highly enough – a truly remarkable getaway.

We were family of 5, me, my husband, my 2 year old, and my parents staying at Gonakal home stay. All of us thoroughly enjoyed what it provided. Home stay is in midst of mountains with breathtaking views. My mind and soul got refreshed. My husband loved the architecture and heritage of the homestay. And my kid loved roaming around and playing with two dogs. Hospitality is never seen like before. Food is completely cooked by owner and tastes delicious and earthy. Best tomato soup I have ever had. I might go back to the homestay from America just to have the tomato soup. My parents thoroughly enjoyed socializing with hosts and other guests. All is all memorable experience of a lifetime.

We were 4 women on vacation. Location - Serene Service- Excellent Hospitality- Genuine Feather on cap is home cooked comfort food by Aunty. Uncle is very passionate about the Homestay and the guests. We felt very safe. Overall great stay. Will revisit for sure.

3 days pleasant stay at this heritage property .good food and homely atmosphere at this heritage property ..green and homely mthe owners went out of the way to make our stay comfortable . Need to keep doors windows closed by evening to prevent all sorts of insects creeping and flying into the rooms . On the negative sides the rooms lacks storage space to keep your stuff though my room did have a cupboard . Lookout for the leeches if you stray of the beaten path .they suck your blood without even knowing about it .felt the owners need to earn the guests on this . V.jayaraj

Stayed in wooden cottage. Spacious. Good food, especially the sambhar which is so different from what we get in normal restaurants. Amazing views on a cloudy day. Enjoyed with hot pakodas served in evening with tea. Last 1.5kms are dirt track, but we saw BMW 3 series sedan being able to come on its own unscathed, so I assume other sedans will also manage. Loved the 2 dogs. I hope they get more time to spend outdoors and not in the cage. Super friendly.

A must visit place to unwind..detach from the noisy and hectic life. Nothing can beat the tranquility, beautiful view from the cottages. And what stands out ..hospitality.. Girish uncle and aunty (owners) will ensure you get the best out of the stay. The food is just amazing, you will relish every bit of it.

Surrounded by estates, this heritage property was a lovely , memorable stay for us. The hosts are delightful, very warm and welcoming. The pet dogs (Loki and Messi) are very friendly . Great home made food , very comfortable rooms , walks through the nearby properties (with a stream that one can access) and brilliant views all around. Definitely worth a visit. A place to get to, sit and just relax (let time "slow down" a little). Suggestion on the drive - If approaching from Chikmagalur, the first left turn as one reaches Gonakal requires a lengthier drive on a dirt track. Suggest heading further on the road and then taking another left later on , which drastically cuts down on the "off roading". We were on bikes so this helped.

If your idea of a relaxing holiday is good food, sightseeing, and ample rest, Gonakal Homestay gives you all of these and more. First up, the place. Nestled in the midst of dense plantations & forest, is a 300-year old mud home (call it palace) that Girish, his wife, their dogs, and the house helps stay. Beautifully laid out, the house should be a heritage site, for the marvellous design and the beautiful upkeep. The five of us took 2 cottages, of the total 5 they have on their grounds. The rooms are well laid out & functional, with 'comfort' being the primary goal. Next, the food. If there is a finer chef in Malnad that the lady of the house, I would like to meet that person. Once we had informed them of our vegetarianism, and of our desire to taste local cuisine, Girish and his wife ensured that the best of Malnad was on our plate for each meal. Akki Roti, tomato rice, vegetable rice, kadubu, kara roti, kara chutney, nellikaayi uppinkayi, and to top it all, awesome filter coffee, the beans of which are from their own plantation. And finally the ambience. If you are headed to the woods from the city, the peace, solitude, clean air, and the unhurried pace of this place is to die for (no pun intended). Finally the people. If Girish are his wife are lovely hosts, his two helps - the *** from Bihar and the young Tamil lady from the neighbouring village are efficient, hard working, and pleasant. All in all, we had an awesome time at Gonakal homestay, and hope their quiet warmth, and earthly charm gives joy to a lot many visitors over the weeks, months, and coming years. Yes, I will give a huge high five for Gonakal.