Jungle Palace Homestay

Beautiful homestay close to the periyal reserve. Room big and very clean. From the windows you can see a selvatic animals.Higly reccomened.

Breakfasts were excellent. Keralan breakfast served in different forms each day. Very filling and very tasty. Bed was very comfortable for us. A little firm for some maybe. The owner Rajesh is very friendly and helpful. Always on call if needed. For nature lovers our room was ideal. We had the absolute privilege of seeing wild gaur about 50m in front of our room but from the safety of the 2nd floor. Magnificent beasts. They often come as the light fades but one night they came at 17.10 so we could photograph them. Location is ideal for the reserve. Next to the Lake Road entrance so we walked a very short distance and paid our 500rs each daily fee to enter the reserve. We were then free to walk up and down the 3km road to the Lake. We had to promise to stick to the tarmac. You can re-enter as many times as you like in the day. If you want the bus it is a 25 min walk or tuk tuk to the Bamboo Grove bus station. Bus costs 30rs each return I think. Ecotourism office near the homestay sell tickets for walks and give very good advice.

Monkeys. The bonnet macaque are a pain. They tried to steal my trousers I had just tied to the balcony to dry. I scared them off but then one went for me. They really wanted our breakfast which is served in your room.

They support all time and famlier to us

Venue

Could see animals

Location overlooking park

It is not a homestay at all. Bad staff interaction. Poor breakfast Rooms were ok but walls a bit mouldy, roof very very dusty. Ants in the room. Bed smelt like pee. Uncomfortable beds and pillow Given room with no balcony despite booking it. These things happen, but the Staff continually lied about why we couldn't have that room, that other people were in the room, that we booked too late, not enough nights etc etc. The room was sitting empty btw. Also forced us to move rooms after 2nd day and still to wrong room type despite saying we just wanted to stay where we were. Staff pretended not to understand us in these interactions and also for anything we asked. It was bizarre, then they would speak good English every other time. Originally, would have given a 5/10 for the location but the staff really made this stay unenjoybale. On checkout tried to give manager neutral feedback that on booking.com it definitely says Balcony for this room and he went into a tirade about how we were wrong and can't book a balcony view. Only 3 rooms have balcony he has 8 room. We said ok, so if you're booking please be forewarned Bad staff can ruin an ok place

The views backing onto the National Nature reserve were amazing. Buffalo, Mongoose, birds all just outside the room and the morning visit from the Monkeys was great too.

Large clean room with AC and wifi. Fabulous view from the terrace (private or communal depending on which room you have) - overlooking the edge of the National Park - some good bird-watching from the terrace plus great views of a gaur (Indian bison) at dusk (better than in the National Park!) as well as wild boar and mongoose. 5 minutes walk to one of the Nat Park entrances, 15 minutes walk to the other. 20 minutes walk into the town centre. Several nearby restaurants (Bamboo Cafe recommended) and several more on the road into town (Chrissie's Cafe recommended). Helpful staff. Very good value for money.

Beware of the aggressive macaque monkeys who will try and steal any food if you are on the balcony - keep a stick handy!