Jenukal - The Honey Stone
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Snuggled high up among the Western Ghats and around the coffee-laden slopes of Sakleshpur is the Jenukal Peak. Jenukal when translated means Honey Stone, the peak being named after the fact that the area used to be
rife with honeybees in the past.

The trek to this peak takes you through stretches of Shola forests and is a very enjoyable undertaking. You can see curious creatures like Funnel Spiders and an assortment of birds like the Minivets, Barbets, Sunbirds and Hill Myenas. You might even come across an occasional Tuskers if a herd is passing through and decides to say Hi to you.

The peak presents a slight challenge with its vertical walls, a challenge
which the trek guides can help you easily overcome. The view from the top
is breathtaking and on a clear day all you can see is the stark blue above and
an expansive green everywhere else. Sandwiched between the two you can choose to laze around and catch a nap with the playful breeze fanning you to comfort or pull out your binoculars to catch glimpses of winged creatures like the Kestrels.

If you are game to meet the ghost who walks, a moderate trek to the Phantom Rock close by is for you. This trek is equally enjoyable and made more so by deft trek guides.

The area also offers numerous small streams to dangle your tired feet in and relax while you are entertained by the birds and their birdsongs. A multitude of butterflies in all stunning colours will flit by and say Hello all the way, as you amble in the scenic locales.

At the end of a day’s adventure and exercise, you always have a place to call home – the Jenukal Heritage Home. With its exquisite 120-year old yet extremely sturdy and well-maintained house that boasts of ornateness in every corner, this place is a visual treat. It has several spots where you can settle down and relax to the utmost extent; the cozy corners, the inviting porch, the swing under the Guava tree and the sit-out on the first floor are just some of the places where you can put your feet up. The rooms have been done up very well to incorporate all the modern facilities while keeping the antique touch alive and are a comfortable haven for the night.

The food served here is a culinary delight even if it is something as simple as Neer Dosa with Ladies Finger curry. The owners sometimes add the icing on the cake with some sinful homemade desserts. The coffee served is also home-grown and comes from the adjoining estates. The heavenly smell of this coffee wafting around as you watch the sun rising in the mist from the east-facing upper sit-out makes you thankful to even be alive. All in all, Jenukal is an experience that you can savour long after you’ve left it behind… like the smell of its coffee.

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