As the first rays of the sun drove the clinging, shadowy mists into oblivion, I sat up a little straighter on the passenger seat, rubbing away the last vestiges of sleep from my tired yet eager eyes.

We’d set out when the moon was still high in the sky. Our destination was barely six hours away but we had taken our time, enjoying the drive, stopping for coffee, midnight snacks and other random reasons, until we hit the forest check post bordering the Nagarhole National Park at the crack of dawn.

As the air around me cleared, the sight that met my eyes was straight out of a jungle lore: a stretch of trees, moist, green and deciduous, interspersed with thick scrubs, punctuated with the melodious cacophony of a dozen different birds, and the electrifying calls of mysterious animals hidden away in the undergrowth.

The first movement we chanced on was a gorgeous flying squirrel. I’ve roamed these jungles for years now and I’d yet to see one in these parts. The rest of the drive, and the trip, through these winding roads was peppered with a number of the incredibly beautiful,endearingly shy Muntjac, otherwise called the barking deer, which are indigenous to these jungles. We spotted elephants, wild boar, mongoose and countless birds. We also saw numerous spotted and sambar deer, sporting dark brown coats signifying themating season, dotting the jungles.

After an enthralling drive through the National Park, with a dozen stops to admire a darting deer or a flitting bird, we reached our stay.

Tropical Blooms is a charming and comfortable homestay built with great attention to detail. Isolated from the hustle and bustle of Kutta town, nestled in the cool shade of the coffee shrubs, it is a veritable haven, serene and scenic.

I can boldly say that it is easily one of the best homestays I’ve been in, with a stunning view of the Brahmagiri Hills. The rooms are comfortable, the lounge cozy, and the lawn, a perfect chill-out spot with its verdant grass, quaint wooden benches, and the requisite barbeque pit. The staff is courteous and takes care of your every need. The host, should you get to meet him, is hospitable and gratifyingly knowledgeable about the locale and the culture. The food is plentiful and organic, and we got to sample the local fare, including <em>pandi</em> curry, in all its deliciousness.

We soaked in the glorious view, ate the sumptuous food, lazed on the lush lawn, went on wild drives, explored the touristy spots, made the most of the weather, tried our hand at pond fishing, read books in the lounge, oohed and aahed at the stunning anthurium gardens, gorged on the barbeque, warmed ourselves by the campfire under starlit skies, talked, laughed, and made memories to last us a lifetime.

Will I return? Again and again. As far as my destinations for holiday homestays go, Tropical Blooms is here to stay.