This is one of the oldest houses at Agumbe. It is said to be more than 150 years old. Even some parts of the famous television serial ‘Malgudi Days’ was shot here. This place is Dodda (Doddu) Mane or large house, situated in the heart of Agumbe and just a short walk from the Agumbe bus stand.
It is the best accommodation option at Agumbe. This place is like your grandmother’s house. Excellent food, limited facilities, rustic look and feel, lots of love and great hospitality. Run by Kastur Akka or popularly known as Ajji (Grandma), this place is the best way to enjoy the Agumbe experience or at least that’s what my friends and I found out during our recent trip.
The special thing here is that Kastur Akka doesn’t charge her customers a fixed fee for the stay, food and the overall service. Instead, she takes whatever her customers offer her, depending on their comfort and financial levels. She uses this money given by her customers to run this place, feed the poor and educate the under-privileged children.
But, this overall rustic experience comes with a set of rules. Only home cooked vegetarian food and that too at designated times. And you can eat as much as you want, but no wasting any food. Kastur akka and her family are Konkani Brahmins and hence this dietary restriction. No meat, alcohol or smoking inside the house. No takeaways. The house gates are open only from 5 AM to 10 PM. Clean common bathrooms and toilets are available. Hot water is also available. In fact, most of the experience is how it would be in your house.
If you are interested in exploring Agumbe and near-abouts, I would recommend this place with multiple thumbs up. One needs prior booking here as most of the time this homestay runs full. Bookings can be done by calling Kastur Akka at 08181-233075 or her son in-law Ravikumar Pai at 9448603343. Kastur Akka can converse in Kannada, Konkani, Marathi, Kannada, English, Hindi and a bit of other South Indian languages.
P.S. If you don’t get accommodation at Dodda Mane, you can try Mallya Hotel - 9448814187, which is the only other available accommodation option.
Travel blog of an Indian traveler living his dream of experiencing the world and inspiring others to live their travel dream. Focus areas are travel and visa tips, destination guides, experiential travel stories and traveling as a vegetarian.
Wow, sounds like a lovely place to stay in....
ReplyDeleteI knocked on that door last month without prior booking (which was a Saturday evening), but it was full. Mallya hotel is not that good - smelly, not clean. Bottles were rolling all over the room when I went to check the lodge. So went to a friend's place near Koppa instead...
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a fantastic place Aarti!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did visit Kundadri. Photos and write-up to come up soon now that I have returned to Bangalore.
ReplyDeleteAbout Agumbe...when me and my friends were there last month, we did not have any prior booking but somehow coaxed our way into Dodda Mane. If you talk well, the folks there will somehow try to accommodate you. And as you said, Mallya is the last option to stay here.
We need such Kastur Akkas all around. Hats off to her.
ReplyDeleteRight on! Very noble service...
ReplyDeleteAs...nice post and awesome pics :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Siddhartha!
ReplyDeleteAgumbe pride of karnataka and we like the kashaya which we got in kasthurakkas house.......................
ReplyDeleteSo do I! The kashayas are brilliant. One can feel all the tiredness disappear on having one cup.
ReplyDeleteStaying at Dodda mane is very nice experience..I have stayed at Doddamane couple of times and also at Mallya Residency..
ReplyDeleteI suggest you can stay anywhere in Agumbe except at Mallya residency...Poor service..Room condition was pathetic..mosquitoes..slippery surface..no soap/towel/water provided..Poor service..we found bed bugs..really frustated. My friend caught few bed bugs and showed to the owners Mr. Malya and his Son Mr.Sudhindra.
Better be away from Mallya residency..
Staying at Doddamane and thier host is excellent..
ReplyDeleteMallya Residency - Seems Jason is another victim..We too had a bad a experience..We too found bed bugs in the room. I went with family and had a very bad experience..Some bachelors were staying next to our room..they are all boozing and making lots of noise..Beer bottles outside the rooms...When we complained to Mr.Sudhindra Malya, he said 'Sir, this is common and we cant avoid', Pathetic guys.
Not a right place to stay with family..
Thank you Jason for sharing your valuable feedback.
ReplyDeleteEven I have heard similar comments from other tourists. I guess, the Mallya residency is ideal for college going kids who do not have too much money to spend and dont care much about their surroundings.
ReplyDeleteplease we r recover our mistakes
ReplyDeleteI guess you will have to mention that to all the people who have had a bad experience staying at your hotel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I knocked on the door last month without prior reservation, but it was great. Mallya hotel is not so good - smelly, not clean. Bottles rolled across the room when I went to check the lodge.
ReplyDeleteHi guys this is Kanasu I'm planing to visit Dodda Mane. Hw much cn we pay for Kastur Akka for one day. Cn any one reply plz......
ReplyDeleteYou can pay her whatever you can afford to. If I remember right, I paid Rs 500 per person per day. this includes stay at her house and all meals and coffee/tea.
ReplyDeleteHey, awesome travel log! I have a query. I live in Chennai. I would love to visit Agumbe; would you recommend a private vehicle or are there enough public transport services to reach there? If so, which is the nearest place to which direct trains are available from Chennai?
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Pushkar
Thank you Pushkar for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteIf you have time at hand, take a bus to Bangalore and then to Udupi and then to Agumbe or take a train to Blore and then to Shimoga and then bus to Agumbe.
If you don't have time at hand, take a private vehicle. Plus it will help you explore the places around Agumbe as they might be a little far away to walk. Bus services are very less in Agumbe.
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat is very good to know.
ReplyDeleteYes, she is very nice and it is good to know that you share the same good will.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them are really close by. In fact, walking distance.
ReplyDeleteThe whole area is rain forest area. wherever you walk there you find it. In the midst of it, a small rustic village-town called agumbe. Walk 15 minutes from dodda mane, and you will be in dense forest
ReplyDeleteThank you Prakash for providing the details.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeletei am planing to visit Agumbe with my friend in first two week of July . Our main objective to visit Agumbe is to explore the rain forest.So i would like to know from you how far rainforest of Agumbe is from doddamane rest house???
Your contact number to call and do the bookings. The number you have on web is not reachable whenever i call.
Everything is close by.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteWe were in Agumbe during the middle of the last August, and the experience at Dodda Mane was nice but different and ever remembering. The kind of treatment you get is something not of hotel but of your own home. While saying good bye to Mr. Ravikumar we asked how much to pay, and his answer was "My duty is to service you, I would not say the charges for that".
Agumbe a small of village of South Karnataka, is a nice place to visit during the peak of monsoon. When visit there try to keep the simplicity, innocence of the village.
I am very happy that you had a good time. Dodda Mane is special. What else can i say.
ReplyDeleteHi Sankara,
ReplyDeleteI had been with my frnds this week to #Dodda Manne.Hiked #Barkanna Falls n #Jogi Gundi Falls. Did it by following ur blogs :) The ambience of the house is so pleasant and welcoming. Very good hospitality and of course great food. Simply felt like staying @ home.They also arranged a guide for Hiking. Thanks for the number that u have shared. Was able to inform Kasturi Aggi in advance.
You are welcome Sandeep and I am glad you had a great trip.
ReplyDelete