As working professionals, nurturing a dream of life on a farm was never easy. Daily responsibilities, tight schedules, and the rhythm of city life kept pushing that dream deeper into our hearts rather than closer to reality. Still, it refused to fade.
One fine day, we took a decisive step—to search for a piece of land in the hills, a place that could hold our hopes and patience. During this journey, destiny introduced us to Shri Balakrishnettan—fondly known as Bhalu Bhai—and Sudha Chechi. Their warmth, wisdom, and deep-rooted connection with the land shaped our path in ways we had never imagined.
That meeting marked the beginning of The Slope—not just a farm stay, but a space where nature, simplicity, and slow living come together. What began as a distant dream is now steadily taking shape on a gentle slope in Wayanad.
We explored many parcels of land—some with Bhalu Bhai and some on our own. During this journey, we began to understand Wayanad more deeply. An increasing number of NRIs are returning only to leave again—selling their ancestral lands to settle abroad or in cities like Bengaluru. For many, these sales fund their children’s dreams overseas.
At the same time, we met people who are still hardcore farmers—men and women who find joy in the soil, the rain, and the slow rhythm of farming. When they asked us about our project, the sparkle in their eyes was unmistakable. Their curiosity and hope reassured us that we were thinking in the right direction.
By then, we were already clear about one thing: farming would always come before the stay. Our idea was never to create a place where people come only to relax and leave. Instead, we wanted a space where, if you are interested in farming, you are welcome to stay. A place where you include yourself in simple farm activities, understand the land, and experience the joy of working with nature.
Of course, we will provide a comfortable and thoughtfully designed stay. But our core intention goes beyond facilities. Our aim is to help people reconnect with the feeling of a real village—where people work in the fields, support one another, and share life with warmth and respect.
At The Slope, we do not call anyone a guest.
We see them as partners in farming.
Bhalu Bhai talks a lot—about everything. His conversations flow from his early life to his struggles, his way of living, and the many kinds of work he has taken up over the years. Listening to him feels less like a discussion and more like sitting through lived history.
He began travelling at a very young age and worked across different cities, including Mumbai and Chennai, taking on diverse roles and learning from every place he lived in. Originally from Calicut, he eventually chose to settle in Kenichira, Wayanad—where the land and life resonated deeply with him.
With his vast experience in both construction and farming, and his strong connections among the local community in Kenichira, Bhalu Bhai naturally became an irreplaceable part of our journey. More than just his skills, it is his understanding of people, land, and life that gave us confidence.
Choosing him was not a decision on paper.
It simply felt right.
Caretaker, manager, guide—whatever name one may use—Bhalu Bhai became the backbone of our dream project.
Sudha Chechi is a calm and quietly strong person, born and brought up in Wayanad. She carries within her the legacy of this land—where hard work, patience, and dignity are a way of life.
She may not speak much with strangers, but once you align with her, you become her own. That trust, once earned, is deep and genuine.
An exceptional cook and a dedicated homemaker, Sudha Chechi has a natural way of keeping everything around her clean, orderly, and welcoming. Her presence brings a sense of balance and warmth to the home—something that cannot be taught or planned.
In many ways, she represents the soul of the land we chose to build our dream on.