Fringed by coffee, pepper and silver oak plantation, family-run Shwethagiri Homestay is a cozy two storey facility on the hillside perch of BR Hills. It is located in a 7-acre lush green property and shares the compound with Giridarshini Homestay which is another popular option for tourist accommodation in the area. The facility is around 175 km from Bangalore, 90 km from Mysore, and 1 km from the famous BR Hills temple.
Amenities
- Open Car Park Area
- Bonfire
- Private Sit-out Area
- Nature Walk
Accommodation
The Shwethagiri Homestay is a no-frills facility having a total of 8 rooms sprawling across two floors. Each room has an attached toilet and a sit-out area on the front. The rooms are simple with scenic views and can accommodate 3 adults. The toilets are spacious, clean and very basic. Though TV sets are provided in the rooms, the DTH services are generally unavailable.
Food
The Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are provided in a Gazebo / common dining area within the premises.
- Morning Tea – The Morning tea/coffee is usually served by the staff in the rooms between 7 to 7.30 AM
- Breakfast – The breakfast is served in the Gazebo around 9 AM. The spread is standard and food options include idli, plain dosa, vada, coffee, tea, sambar and chutney.
- Lunch and Dinner – The Homestay serves only South Indian vegetarian food. Non-veg food is not prepared within the premises. However, guests looking for non-veg food
options comprising of chicken or egg, can place their requests with the staff well in advance. - High Tea – The High Tea is served by the staff in the rooms alongwith snacks.
Activities
Following are the list of activities which the guests can enjoy during their stay in Shwethagiri
- Bonfire – The staff arranges complimentary bonfire for the guests in the evening in the common sit-out area within the premises.
- Forest Safari – The Forest Safari is conducted by Forest Department Office which is situated in K Gudi, around 18 kms from Shwethagiri Homestay. The staff members of
the Homestay can help the guests in booking the Forest Safari. - BR Hills Temple Visit – The BR Hills temple is 1 km from the facility. The temple remains pretty crowded during the day time. Guests in good health can walk upto the
Temple from Shwethagiri Homestay. The view from the top is breath taking. Evenings are less crowded and the Evening Aarti is usually conducted between 7.30 PM to 8.00 PM. Because of its proximity to the temple, it is advisable for the guests staying at the facility to attend the Evening Aarti which is very vibrant and lively. However visit to the temple in the evenings should be done in a vehicle as the route is usually dark and empty.
Tips
- The Giridarshini and Shwethagiri Homestays share the same parking space. Hence finding a proper parking spot may be a bit difficult especially in the weekends when
the place becomes extremely crowded. - The Staff of Shwethagiri Homestay are very courteous and helpful. They provide complimentary to and fro service of carrying luggage during the check-in and check-out.
- Though the pathway within the estate leading to the building has lights, it is advisable to carry torchlights in case guests decide to venture within the premises at night.
- The facility is a Homestay with basic amenities and not a luxury resort.
- The building is within a large coffee,pepper and silver oak estate. The views from the top floor rooms are mesmerizing.
- The place has a large population of monkeys. Hence guests should be careful of their belongings and keep the doors of their rooms shut at all times.
- The building doesn’t have any lift facility.
