A Slow Weekend in a Wayanad Treehouse – The Perfect Monsoon Escape

Author : The Roaming Shoes | Published On : 06 Sep 2026

I stand on the balcony of our treehouse, watching the sky change its mind. One moment, it is a brilliant blue, dotted with huge cotton candy clouds. The next, grey monsoon clouds roll in and the rain begins to fall. Even in the middle of the afternoon, the chorus of crickets and cicadas fills the air. And songs of countless birds echo through the trees. A peacock, its magnificent plumage glistening, strolls out of the bushes to forage without a care in the world. I find myself smiling as I gaze out at the endless velvety green, trying to identify the little bird perched on a tree in the distance. And my heart quietly wonders, how can a place be this beautiful and so incredibly soothing?

We have been to Wayanad many times before. Yet this trip was different in many ways. It is the first time we drove there in our own car. And instead of a hotel or resort in the more popular side of Wayanad, we chose to stay in a quiet treehouse managed by a local family. I must say, our whole experience was elevated by the warmth of our humble hosts and the peaceful surroundings. Read on to know more about this road trip and our amazing stay.

The Drive – Bangalore (Bengaluru) to Wayanad

The drive time to Wayanad may vary depending on where you stay. We stayed close to Kuruva Island, which is nearer to the Karnataka border (around 270 km from Bangalore). It took us about 7 hours, including the stops. We never rush our road trips and relish the journey and the chai breaks. So our drive time may be a little longer. But if you start early from Bangalore, 6 hours should be enough including a breakfast stop. If you’re staying farther into Wayanad, in places like Kalpetta or Vythiri, it may take 7–7.5 hours. One thing I can assure you, though, is that the drive is beautiful throughout. So buckle up and enjoy the journey.

The roads are in excellent condition almost all the way, except for a short rough stretch through the forest. But honestly, with the forest looking so pretty after the rains, I was happy to overlook the bumpy road. It also seemed to be butterfly season, as the entire forest was teeming with them – hundreds of yellow and cream-coloured butterflies fluttering around. And then spotting herds of deer and an elephant by the roadside was icing on the cake. 

Our stay in Wayanad – A cosy treehouse amidst nature

How often do you come across a stay and feel, this is exactly what I was looking for? Because that’s exactly how we felt when we stumbled upon Kalidasa Treehouse and Villa. This time, all we wanted was not a fancy resort, but a peaceful retreat where we could slow down and simply be. A place with all the creature comforts, yet tucked away from the crowds. And this charming little treehouse nestled amidst a plantation felt like the perfect match.

The best part was that it was owned and managed by a local family who served delicious farm-to-table home-cooked meals. Having always loved authentic local experiences over luxury, we were instantly sold. Now, after spending two beautiful days in this little slice of heaven, I can confidently say it has been one of our most memorable stay experiences in India so far.

The Treehouse

The treehouse we stayed in is built around an old tamarind tree very aesthetically. It is compact, but well organised, spotlessly clean and is well equipped with basic amenities. There is a small attached bathroom and a balcony where we loved sitting and watching the rain. The lower part of the treehouse is used as a sitting cum dining area where all our delicious meals were served. I mean food with lush views and bird music is not something we get everyday in the city. So this became my favourite part of the stay.

Our Experience

We loved the property right from the moment we stepped in. Even in the early afternoon, it donned a dreamy look under the cloudy monsoon sky. The pathway leading to our treehouse was lined with coffee plants and fruit trees – mangoes, jackfruits, avocados, papayas and cinnamon too. The loud buzzing of cicadas made it feel more like dusk than the middle of the day. The lone treehouse felt perfectly secluded and wonderfully romantic, as though we had our own little corner of the plantation to ourselves. We would spend hours sitting in the balcony or in the dining area relishing the lush views and watching birds. And when it rained, it somehow made everything even more beautiful. Read More…..