Take a break at Silver Oak Farms

Run by Meera and Praveen Khanna, Silveroak Farms near Nandi Hills, Bangalore, combines a relaxed ambience with great views, simplicity and homely warmth. Silvertalkies takes you there.

Silver Oak farm (Picture courtesy: Praveen and Meera Khanna)

Praveen Khanna, the owner of Silver Oak Farms, is a busy man when we reach his farmhouse at the foot of Nandi Hills near Bangalore, after a drive of one and half hours from the southern part of the city. The reason is a large group of unexpected guests who have arrived at the farm by mistake. “They had booked in another resort nearby with a similar name and mistakenly arrived at the farm instead,” says Mr Khanna while trying to organize an itinerary for the group as Mrs Khanna hurriedly gets lunch organized. Sending away the guests, who like the place and wish to stay there, is not an option. “My wife saw that they had kids and wouldn’t say no.” he reasons, giving us a peek into the hospitality that Silver Oak Farms is known for.

Home style warmth seems part of the charm at this farm with lovely views and a grand verandah suited to long lunches and lazy siestas. The Khannas have been running it for almost eight years now after buying a hill and building their home, as Mr Khanna puts it. Though their original concept was to build a retirement home for themselves, the Khannas eventually turned the farm into a homestay, taking in guests over the weekend (Friday to Sunday). You could also visit the farm for a day trip as it is located at an ideal distance from the city.

This is a working farm that has seen a lot of experimentation in its owners’ quest for organic farming. Today, what used to be a rocky and barren land when the Khannas bought it, is a wide expanse of green with fruits like strawberries, papaya, citrus fruits like seedless lemon, Guava, Pomegranate, Litchi and Mango grown here among other things. Most of the ingredients used for cooking come from the farm itself, says Mr Khanna, adding that his wife Meera handles all the cooking herself with help from her staff and gives great importance to quality control.

A believer and complete convert to the methods and benefits of what he calls natural farming, Mr Khanna says though it took some time for the farm to kickstart (it took him three months to get crops after he started natural farming), today he is reaping the benefits. “You assimilate forest like conditions with natural elements like cowdung and let nature work as much as possible,” he gives us a quick lesson, adding that natural farming is much more powerful than its organic avatar.

Mr Khanna’s guiding force is his wife Meera, who hails from Ooty and has gained quite a reputation among visitors to the farm with her mouth watering food. She is also the lady behind an excellent Ginger Lime juice and a variety of pickles, preserves and jams all made and bottled at the farm. You could buy these at the farm on a visit or from the Bangalore Club if you are a member.

The farm is ideal for a day trip on a weekend. You need to call in advance and book lunch or dinner or both as they run on a small staff and need to be prepared. You could club it with a visit to Nandi Hills nearby as well as a Reeling Unit that Mr Khanna mentions is worth a trip. The farm itself would make for a great outing especially if you are in a family group with children. The farm dogs, Mickey and Minnie are well trained and friendly (there’s a tortoise in the indoor courtyard too) and you could go harvesting for whatever fruit is in season.

“We try to keep it homely,” says Mrs Khanna, summing up their motto and adding that they like having guests, especially children. “If people visit, the farm stays well maintained.”

What we liked about Silver Oak Farms is this elderly couple’s enthusiasm and determination in maintaining a relaxed holiday home with great views and a very laid back ambience. Do visit to soak in the feeling of being cut off from the hectic pace of everyday city life and rejuvenate yourself over the weekend.

Call in advance to book a stay or book lunch or dinner at Silveroak Farms. To reach there, follow the directions on their website and chances are you won’t get lost. Don’t expect a board or a gate with a huge sign and there would be no room for confusion. Ask for Khanna’s farmhouse if you are lost once you enter the Nandi village.

For more details, visit the website at http://www.silveroakfarm.com/index.htm