Emerging spots: Kasaragod farm stay offers fruits, glass bridges, ant-hill cottages and more

The sweet aroma of a multitude of fruits, including guava and mangoes, will greet you as you step into the bosky ‘Farm Pathayapura’ at Karakode in Kasaragod district’s Madikkai panchayat. Prasanna and Vijayan, the hosts of the farmstay, are visionaries who have transformed a barren land into this vibrant and productive retreat. The couple retired from government services, - Prasanna as Assistant Educational Officer and Vijayan as engineer in PWD Department.

They decided to take the plunge into the world of agriculture and farming after retirement, which led them to their own land at Karakode in Kasaragod, from the neighbouring Kannur district. The land, which was purchased years ago, had rubber and coconut trees, as well as areca palms. After cutting down rubber trees, the couple started to cultivate mangoes, jackfruits, cashews, pineapple, pepper, nutmegs and cloves.

During COVID-19, people who used to buy fruits from their farm stopped doing so. Prasanna was worried as ripe jackfruits and mangoes that fell from the trees were rotting. She got the idea to start a processing unit after attending a training workshop of the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission. Securing a loan and with the help of the Industries Department, the couple set up the unit and soon after, the jackfruit powder they manufactured became a hit. The demand was so high that the duo had to buy jackfruits from their neighbours, though they had around 100 high-yield jackfruit trees in their farm. Now, jackfruit seed powder and dried jackfruit slices are churned out and sold under the brand name of ‘Farm Pathayapura’ at Rs 300 per kilogram. The products are sold mainly through social media platforms and railway station outlets. Fruit squashes are also available along with dried pineapple, dragon fruit, papaya and banana. There is also a fish farm here where many varieties are reared.

What to see
Farm Pathayapura has a lot to offer tourists, including fish farming, fruit orchards, organic vegetables and paddy fields, a Miyawaki forest, cottages, zip lines, and a glass bridge, among other attractions. Their fish farm has rohu, catla, tilapia and ‘varaal’ (snakehead murrel), and you can also purchase them. The price starts at Rs 250 per kg. A special fee is charged for catching fish from the ponds. Specially designed seats could be found at strategic points throughout the farm. The walkways had been laid to take visitors to all the farming spots and rain shelters spruced up. The farm boasts many cows, including the ‘Kasaragod Kullan’, as well as goats, hens, ducks, rabbits, and ornamental birds.

The nature-friendly cottages in the Miyawaki forest are designed like Ants’ Hill and the rooms have all the facilities. The guests will also have the opportunity to have lip-smacking dishes as food for them is prepared with fresh vegetables from the farm. The rare ‘Rakthashali’ rice, which is known for its nutritional and medicinal properties and cultivated at the farm, is served for the visitors.

Activity possibilities
The thought of offering something new to the visitors brought Prasanna and Vijayan to adventure tourism. Many told them that the bird’s-eye view of the farm, dotted with ponds and small hills, would be breathtaking. First came a zip line and a children’s park, and then a glass bridge built at a cost of around Rs 20 lakh. Vijayan, who is an engineer, designed the glass bridge.

How to reach?
You can reach ‘Farm Pathayapura’ in Karakode by travelling from Kalayanam stop, which is on the Mavungal-Madikkai-Ambalathara road, while coming from Kanhangad, via Veluda solar park. For more information, contact: 94472 38525.