Accomodation
At Banavasi, tourists can stay at the newly built Village Tourism Complex. There are eleven double rooms available with attached bathrooms set around a square courtyard at the edge of Banavasi with the River Varada on one side and the Pampa Vana on the other.
The tariff is :
Single Occupancy – Rs 450
Double Occupancy – Rs 650 for two persons
Suite - Rs 850 for two persons
Food and Transport are not included in this tariff
There are two homestays currently operational.
The first is in the home of Sunanda Akka in Banavasi town right next to the temple. She has a traditional Malnad house with a wooden ceiling. She offers two rooms on the first floor which are reached access through a typical steep wooden staircase. The bathroom and toilet are at the backend of the house and are to be shared with the family.
The second homestay, set in a large plantation, is at the edge of the Gudavi Sanctuary about 25 km from Banavasi. Ganu and Vinu are the couple who own the house and the surrounding plantation. They live in a traditional Malnad house. The rooms are in two cottages set apart from the main house. One cottage has a double bed and an adjacent room for a child, with its own attached toilet and bathroom. The second cottage has two rooms, a kitchen and a toilet/bath, with a traditional water heating system.
Please contact the Village Tourism Committee for tariffs and bookings.
Cuisine
Come to Banavasi for its varied cuisine. “Khanavalis” or small eateries in Banavasi serve up hot, delicious food with a warm smile. There are several breads made of rice, jowar and corn as well as rice served with a variety of sweet, sour, pungent and spicy curries and sauces. Accompanying the meal is a wide range of fresh powders and chutneys made of lentils, chillies, tamarind, oil cake…
A book of recipes using pineapple is available and you could even be there for the monthly pineapple mela which is held on the first weekend of every month. This is when a women’s group in Banavasi come together to cook up a feast using pineapple as the main ingredient.