In a clearing in the middle of the rainforest is a little building. It was once a plantation bungalow, but over the years the jungle has crept almost right up to the house and surrounded it with forest noises and silence. You could call it the middle of nowhere but, luckily for those of us constantly on the search for profoundly peaceful holidays, we know where Fringe Ford is: in Kerala’s heavily forested Wayanad district.
There are currently only three rooms to be let in the lovely bungalow, each furnished with old furniture and with luxurious bathrooms. (Five more rooms will be added shortly.) Food is local specialities cooked on a charcoal stove. Activities at Fringe Ford, which borders the Wayanad and Tholpaty reserve forests: jungle walks, treks, more walks, eating, sleeping, reading, and some more walks. If you can bear to leave for a few hours, the friendly folks at Fringe Ford can also arrange a car for local sightseeing trips.
The information
Location: Mananthavadi, Wayanad Dist, Kerala; 135km/3hr from Kozhikode/ Mysore
Contact: 080-51161600, 9845442224, www.fringeford.com