Surrounded by the forests of Bandipur, Open Shell Farm hosts you in a spacious, earthy cottage that makes for a uniquely experiential base from which to explore safaris in the region.
Staying on the farm itself, offers a glimpse into what regenerative living can look like in practice. What was once severely eroded, overgrazed land, with little topsoil left, has been regenerated over the years through permaculture and agroecology. Today, the farm is home to thousands of drought-tolerant saplings and more than 400 species of trees, shrubs and other plants, with a multitude of species of birds, insects, butterflies, reptiles, returning to a landscape that now has room for them to thrive. Peacocks, wild hare asre regular visitors with occasional sightings of elephants and wild boars outside the site.
The farm is made up of small cultivated patches, fruiting trees, flowering vines and pockets of woodland, with the land opening out towards the rugged, rocky terrain of Bandipur and the Nilgiris beyond. Peacocks are regular visitors, as are wild hares, while elephants and wild boar occasionally pass through the surrounding landscape.
Open Shell is also a place of learning and experimentation. Its approach to farming works with the land to conserve water, rebuild soil and support a more diverse ecosystem. Today, much of the food grown here goes straight from the farm to the kitchen. Two dogs, a couple of cats and two cows are also part of the farm’s everyday life.
comforts
There is a single spacious cottage at the property, naturally built with adobe blocks created using silt removed from a neighbouring pond. Designed to make the most of natural light and temperature, the solar-passive cottage has an open veranda, a bedroom with a queen-size bed, a charming loft and, with a balcony at the back overlooking the fields and distant rocky hills. The bedroom opens into a living area with a worktable, an extensive collection of books spanning permaculture, history and the social sciences, and another well-lit loft space.
There are also two attached bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen that guests are free to use, making the cottage well suited to both short stays and longer spells spent living or learning from the farm.
Around the cottage, little corners invite you to explore: paths between cultivated patches, places to sit among the greenery, and shared, thatched spaces used for gatherings and workshops.
food
Meals at Open Shell Farm begin with what the land has to offer. Much of the produce comes from the farm itself, grown using organic, chemical-free methods and without synthetic fertilisers. Depending on the season, meals might include fresh salads, vegetables, broths and curries, homemade pickles, ragi mudde or rice preparations.
The cooking is rooted in familiar local food, with the freshness of the ingredients doing much of the work. There is something particularly satisfying about eating food grown just outside your door, especially when you have had a hand in harvesting it yourself.
ideal for
Open Shell Farm is well suited to curious travellers, and offers a gentle introduction to permaculture and regenerative farming, whether you are already interested in ecology or simply want to learn more about where food comes from and how landscapes can be restored.
It is also a rewarding stay for families with children. The small farm patches, animals and varied plant life offer plenty to investigate, with opportunities to learn by watching, wandering and asking questions.
getting there
Open Shell Farm is in the foothills of the Nilgiris, in a small village at the fringes of Bandipur National Park. Exact location will be shared upon booking.
things to do
With the Bandipur safari gate about 45 minutes away, Open Shell Farm offers an alternative to the usual wildlife lodge, pairing a safari-focused stay with the experience of living on a regenerative farm.
Permaculture workshops and other learning sessions take place at the farm at different times of the year. If one coincides with your stay, you may be able to join in. A conversation with your host can take you well beyond the farm itself, into the ideas and questions that shape the way it is run.
You can get involved in the everyday life of the farm, too. Depending on the season and what is ready to harvest, you may be able to gather produce for your own meals and see the journey from field to kitchen come full circle.
As evening settles in, the calls of night birds carry across the farm, and there may be signs of nocturnal visitors in the surrounding landscape. At Open Shell Farm, a stay can be as much about paying attention as it is about doing.
price
Cost for one night:
10,000/- for double as well as single occupancy
Extra person: 3,540/- per night
Children (5-10 yrs.): 2,500/- per night
The cottage can accommodate upto 6 adults and 2-3 children.
Inclusions: All meals – veg only (from lunch on the day of check-in till breakfast on the day of check-out), tea coffee snacks, guided farm walk, bonfire, applicable service charges and taxes.
