Leave the Udupi coastline for a bit. Drive to this forested home in the foothills of a national park close by. This is one of the more fun drives you can take in this part of the world. Once you’ve set your (bare) feet inside Malekaadu, you’re going surprised and charmed.
This is a centuries-old traditional Malnad-style home with a gabled roof. A Manipal-based artist restored this house. There is an indoor courtyard that opens to the sky. Explore the common area to find priceless antique furniture, folk art, intricate stoneware, and old first-edition books.
Every corner of Malekaadu is fascinating and historical but so is the area around it. Dwell in a forest home that is in perfect harmony with its surroundings.
comforts
There are 4 bedrooms on the ground floor – with 2 deluxe rooms having the option of adding extra bedding. The master bedroom opens up into a spacious verandah that looks out at the forest plantation. The other bedroom has a stunning bath area that allows light to stream in during the day from the partially-open roof.
The two remaining standard rooms are closer to the centre of the house and are also part of the original structure. They’re smaller, but incredibly comfortable, with easy access to the back of the house for a little space to yourself. Original wooden slatted windows bring in a burst of green from the foliage outside.
All the bedrooms have attached baths.
food
The food here is one of the most outstanding examples of authentic Udupi cuisine we’ve tried. Eat fluffy red rice cooked in rich coconut milk with piquant and delicious jackfruit and mango pachdis, mustard chutneys, pickles, and gravies.
Ingredients like endemic brinjal take on new meaning when smoked over a fire and cooked with jaggery, tamarind, and chillies. In the summers, enjoy refreshing soursop and kokum juice with produce straight from the farm, and relish the amla rasams and crispy pathrodes. Baby mangoes, curd, cucumbers, pineapple, and coconut are used generously – and play off each other in perfect gastronomic harmony.
Every single dish made in this kitchen is cooked with special care and attention to the produce that is grown organically around the area. You can tell when the fresh ginger and coriander chutney touches the taste buds that you’re in for something special.
This is an alcohol-free joint, so enjoy your beers before you arrive! Please note that alcohol is not permitted on the premises.
ideal for
Historians, artists, writers, photographers – or anyone with an inkling of interest in these subjects are due for a visit. Even without the historical aspect, the blending of cuisine and comfort are enough to provide a sense of rest and relaxation. Areca nut plantations blend with wild forest patches and provide numerous avenues of exploration. Go on some of the trails leading up to a sparkling, multi-storied waterfall that looks out over the national park.
Epicureans, kitchen wizards, gastronomes, gourmets, whatever you want to call it if you’re into all things food – prepare to be mindblown by the interpretations of ancestral recipes that the host cooks up. Learn about the different local rice varieties and wild fruits that are not on your usual menu back at home, we promise!
getting there
Malekaadu is located on the fringes of the national park and is about 1.5 hours southeast of Udupi town. If you’re driving from Bangalore to Udupi, this makes for an ideal 2-3 night stopover to explore the inland corners of Udupi district.
Railway stations in both Udupi and Mangalore are equidistant from the home, and is less than 70 km away. We can recommend safe drivers to drop you at Malekaadu.
Regular buses go to Karkala. We’ll share information on dependable taxi or auto drivers from here.
things to do
There are often cooking workshops, artist residencies, and other events that take place since this home is so inspiring. We’ll keep you updated.
Bring your binocs because you don’t want to miss the birdlife.
Take a drive to the Udupi coastline.
Swim in the waterfalls, especially around winter (which is rather warm and tropical for a regular December and January).
Explore the house! There’s a dorm upstairs with old wooden floorboards, a tiny room filled with paintings and manuscripts, books to pick up and read, and artefacts to photograph.
Kudremukha National Park borders your stay – enjoy the hikes and treks around.
Go to Manipal and visit Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village to gain more insight about this particular kind of construction. Understanding the history of this region will provide some more depth to your stay at Malekaadu.
price
Deluxe room (with balcony) – Rs. 6,300 + 5% GST = Rs. 6,615 for up to 2 guests. Deluxe room (without balcony) – Rs. 5,250 + 5% GST = Rs. 5,515 for up to 2 guests.
Up to two extra beds are possible in each of the deluxe rooms at Rs. 1,000 per bed including GST.
Standard room (big) – Rs. 3,675 + 5% GST = Rs. 3,860 for up to 2 guests. Standard room (small) – Rs. 3,150 + 5% GST = Rs. 3,310 for up to 2 guests.
Cost includes – Accommodation, breakfast, all in-house amenities, all applicable taxes, and 5% service charges.
