The year was 2015, and I was doing my MBA. Our family had been going through a rather difficult time, and we were looking at ways to increase our income. The one asset we had was our home, and we wondered how we could utilize it for the purpose. At first, my family was reluctant to open our home to strangers. But eventually, they saw the sense in home-sharing and agreed to go ahead with the idea. We set up the rooms, making them guest-ready. However, the question of how to bring guests to our home stay remained. One day my father asked me in despair, “Do you think we would have to wait at bus stations to get tourists?” And that was how it started. Online research showed me dedicated websites that connected homeowners with paid guests. I listed my home with these sites and soon started making money from my unoccupied space. Home-sharing, I realized, was indeed a profitable business and one that can benefit not only travelers but other homeowners like us. We have 4 rooms in our property: 3 deluxe double room and 1 family room with four bedded cots. All the rooms are on the second floor and my family stays on the first floor. To think that it was a question that started it all! (Till 2020)

Before Corona, I had a lot of travelers and friends traveling to my place and faced the difficulty of finding a good restaurant/café. In 2018, we got to buy a hotel which is in the roadside at the entrance of Kumily. We were not into the restaurant business for that reason we rented out our space to outsiders and for some reason, they were not doing good and got a lot of complaints from our guests. With the help of my elder brother and cousin, worked on a plan for a good resto café that can solve the problem of a good restaurant in our place and that's how we came up with the idea of "SORA TTHEKKADY". Just started 1 month before Corona hits our country (Jan 30). Stopped operations on March 14th, 2020, and the business shut down for 2 months. We got the order on May 15, 2020, to resume business again with takeaways and deliveries by the time 80% of staff went back to their home and we doesn't have a runway to run the show. 2 staff and my younger brother gave it a try and however we manage to take orders, cooked, and deliver them within 30Km radius. The great advantage we got at that time was the majority of restaurants were closed within a 30km radius and still, people want to order the food. Struggled a bit without taking salaries and paying debts for the opening costs, and electricity bills. Now, "SORA THEKKADY" is providing jobs for 12 local staff and I am a part of their life. Got 800 reviews online, recommended on Tripadvisor, Justdial, and restaurant guru. Made an online ordering system with the help of 'Fudr' because we don't have Swiggy, Zomato, or other aggregators in our place and still, people want to order food via online. I always wanted to add value to people and that's how I grow and my company too. The best part is I am having a team now :) (to be continued)

Our homestay is situated near to Periyar tiger reserve. Greenary,nature which makes you to stay here. Lot of activities happening here boating through wildlife sanctuary,trekking like green walk,nature walk,kalari,kathakali,museum, organic farm visit,spice plantation, jeep safari, viewpoint, mud racing. Thekkady offers you more than 30 programs. It is made for you and we need as a valuable customer.