Tranquil, a working plantation sprawling across 400 acres, promotes eco-tourism in an unusual way. Perched among the coffee bushes is an old-world bungalow, where you can stay as guests of the Victor Deys.

"You can see coffee bushes, pepper vines, cardamom plants, coconut and banana trees coexisting with the natural flora and fauna of the region,'' says Victor Dey.

And that's not the only thing you can do if you opt to stay at Tranquil. The Deys have trained masseurs at hand. So you can really unwind and get some expert work done by way of soothing and rejuvenating both body and soul.

More energetically inclined? You can spend a morning trekking to the most important cave in South India, the Edakal Cave, and exploring engravings dating back to the New Stone Age (2500 BC). The cave is situated on Ambukuthy Malai, where legend has it that Lord Ram split the summit of the hill with a well aimed arrow shot, and that's how the hill derives its name, too, for (ambu means arrow and kuthy to create a split.

A half-hour drive from Tranquil will bring you to Muthanga, where wildlife is in abundance and can be viewed from the safety of your jeep, Dey says.Says Dey, "These are home resorts that we are offering. In my house, there are six rooms, with beautiful settings. We are targeting foreign tourists, though we are open to Indian travellers too."

A room at Tranquil costs US$ 250 per couple per day, and US$ 150 per person per day. For the Indian visitor, the rates work out to Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,500, respectively. The tariff includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, soft beverages and local sightseeing, explains Dey. Both north and south Indian cuisine are available, he says. If you are visiting Tranquil in a group, the Deys offer airport pick-up as well.

Dey says that if you wish to explore all that Tranquil has to offer, you should stay at least three days and two nights. Well, go ahead and make a booking quickly for monsoon time is discount time at Tranquil. Make the most of it!