How big is the farm?
Vaksana Farms is 13 acres of verdant greenery. Its an organic permaculture farm with varied crops and farm animals.
How many farmhouses do you have?
We have three farmhouses and two pods. All are located in different parts of the 13-acre farm giving total privacy. We encourage you to view the gallery to look at how our farmhouses and pods look. www.VaksanaFarms.in/gallery
What is the maximum number of people who can stay at the farm?
We can host up to 30 people across all three farmhouses and two pods. This is great for family get-togethers and corporate team retreats. When you book all the farmhouses, the 13-acre farm becomes your own private retreat.
You have the flexibility to book just one or two or all the properties depending on the size of your group.
Can I know the exact location of Vaksana Farms?
Vaksana Farms is located in a beautiful, remote, picture postcard village called Rettanai. The farm is between Tindivanam and Chenji. Here is the Google Maps link that shows the precise location of the farm. https://goo.gl/maps/
How far is the farm from Chennai?
Vaksana Farms is about 2.5 hours drive from Chennai. The NH4 highway is wonderful and makes for a very nice drive. The roads leading all the way to the farm are excellent.
How far is the farm from Pondicherry?
Vaksana Farm is approximately 1 hour from Pondicherry. Just follow Google Maps to figure out the fastest route to the farm.
How far is the farm from Tiruvannamalai?
The farm is a breezy one-hour drive from Thiruvannamalai. Whether you are visiting the Arulmigu Arunachaleswar Temple or the Ramanashramam, staying at Vaksana Farms is convenient.
How far is the farm from Bangalore?
The farm is approximately 5 hours from Bangalore. This of course depends on which part of Bangalore you stay in. Please check Google Maps to check the exact duration. With the new highway being built, the duration is expected to shorten and makes for a beautiful drive.
Can you tell me about the family behind the farm?
Vaksana Farms is a family-run farm. It dates back to over eight generations of the family’s presence in the village. It is currently taken care of by Smt.Kasthuri Sivaraman (73 years) and Mr.Sivaraman (74), parents of Kiruba Shankar.
What do you grow at the farm?
This is a permaculture farm that specializes in growing a multitude of crops. We have a fruit orchard filled with hundreds of fruit trees, coconut grove, mango grove, timber forest, paddy field, vegetable garden and raised beds for greens. We also rear many farm animals such as ducks, geese, turkeys, sheep, rabbits, cows and horses. We are proudly a no-kill farm.
Is the farm organic?
Vaksana farms is a natural farm that follows organic farming principles. We do not like to use chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
Do you have AC in the farmhouse?
Yes, all the farmhouses and pods are fully air-conditioned. This makes for a comfortable stay at the farm. Thanks to the greenery at the farm, the temperature around is a lot cooler than what we experience in the cities.
Does the farmhouse have WiFi? What is the speed of the connectivity?
We have high-speed broadband and WiFi. The average download speed is about 50 Mbps. It’s a miracle that a farmhouse located in the middle of an agricultural farm which is on the outskirts of a remote village has high speed Internet. 
Do you have a washing machine?
Yes, each of the farmhouses has a washing machine and we encourage you to use it. This is ideal for long stays at the farm.
Do you have a reading corner?
We have a beautiful reading nook with large windows that open up to the greenery outside. A comfortable sofa cum bed is placed here, strategically next to the bookshelves. This makes for a very comfortable reading corner.
What are the cleaning services provided at the cottage?
The floors are swept, toilets cleaned, windows wiped, tables and chairs are fully sanitized, all bed & pillow covers are changed to new ones for every new guest. We are extremely careful when it comes to cleanliness. When you stay for longer stays, we do daily turndown cleaning services.
Do you have a workstation in the farmhouse?
Infact, we have many workstations at the farmhouses. This farmhouses were built during the pandemic and hence the design was done in such a way that it is very comfortable for you to work from the farm. Vaksana Farms is a great place for workcations or writing retreats.
Do you provide toiletries?
We encourage guests to bring their own toiletries. This is because each has their own preferences for brands. That said, we do have a stock of toiletries for emergency purposes and guests can buy them from us at cost price.
What is the tariff for the farmstay?
The current tariff (as of 2024) is Rs.8000 per night + taxes.
For national holidays, it is Rs.10,000 per night + taxes.
This rate is for upto 6 people. For additional persons, it is Rs.1000 extra per person per night.
For the latest prices, please refer our website www.VaksanaFarms.in. Please feel free to call Sujani at 9841282266 for any clarification. We are here to help.
Are there taxes?
Yes, 12% tax for accommodation and 5% tax for food as mandated by the government.
How do I know which days are available?
The best way to find out available days is to check out the website www.VaksanaFarms.in. This has real-time calendar to show which days are available. Alternatively, you can call Sujani at 9841282266 and we can help you.
How can I be sure if this is a good farm stay?
Google has given us the prestigious ‘Top Rated’ tag. Over 1500 guests have rated us on Google Reviews with an impressive rating of 4.9 out of 5. We have been consistently rated among the best farm stays in India and Asia.
How many days prior should I do the booking?
Since the farm stay is quite popular mainly because of word of mouth, we recommend booking at least two weeks in advance. Weekends see a lot of demand and hence if you want to book weekends, we strongly recommend blocking it at least a month in advance.
Can I come directly to the farm and book?
No. We do not encourage walk-ins. Guests are allowed in only after prior booking. Please visit www.VaksanaFarms.in for checking the available dates.
We understand you may be traveling and are looking for a stay for that day. In that case, please call Sujani at 9841282266 to check for availability and booking.
How do I make a booking?
There are two simple ways you can make the booking.
1) You can book via the website www.VaksanaFarms.in
2) Or you can call Sujani at 9841282266 and she will help you with the booking.
Do you cater to group bookings?
Yes, we do. Please call Sujani Kiruba at 98412 82266 for a detailed discussion. We have three farmhouses and two pods spread around the 13-acre farm. This makes a great place for groups up to 30 people to have a private retreat at the farm. This is great for family functions and celebrations.
Can I pay cash on arrival?
No. All guests are required to pay the full booking amount in full at the time of booking. The food money can be paid in cash after you visit. But the accommodation money has to be paid prior.
What is your cancellation policy?
We have a friendly cancellation policy. Please refer to this page for the most updated cancellation policy. https://www.vaksanafarms.in/refund-cancellation-policy/
What time is check-in and check-out?
1:00 PM is the check-in
10 AM is the check-out.
The 3 hours in between are needed for deep cleaning and sanitizing the farmhouse in preparation for your arrival.
What food do you provide?
We provide cuisine that is well-known here in our village. It is healthy, tasty vegetarian food. The vegetables and greens are sourced both from the farm as well as farms that are nearby.
The food is prepared by 73-year old Kasthuri Ammal based on the recipe prepared by her mother, 91-year old Lakshmi Ammal. Their cuisine is very popular and they have recently published a cookbook titled, ‘Taste of Vaksana’.
Can we request for a particular food to be cooked?
The menu is decided by Kasthuri Ammal, the matron of Vaksana Farms. Her cooking is legendary and we encourage you to put your full trust in her.
We do not take orders like what you would normally do in a resort or hotel. We are a farm stay. Think of it as staying in our house. We encourage you to put your trust in us. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Who cooks the food?
The delicious, vegetarian village cuisine is cooked by Kasthuri Ammal (who is 73 years old) based on the recipes prepared by her mother, Lakshmi Ammal who lived till 91 years.
Both of them worked on a cookbook titled, ‘Taste of Vaksana Farms‘ which is a compilation of all their popular recipes.
We like non-vegetarian food. Can you cook non-veg food for us?
Sorry. We don’t cook non-veg food at the farm. Trust us when we say that the food that we serve is something that you will relish.
Can we use the kitchen at the farmhouse and cook on our own?
We don’t have self-cooking facility.
You are on a vacation. Come here to relax. Relish the delicious, farm-fresh food that we serve. You will love it.
Can I make barbeque at the farm?
Yes, you can barbecue outside the farmhouse. (no cooking is allowed inside the farmhouse but barbecuing outside is allowed). For non-vegetarian loving guests, this is a fun option to barbecue under the stars at night.
Are there restaurants close by?
There are small restaurants in the Rettanai village which is 2 kms away. If you want more posher restaurants, then the closest ones are in Tindivanam town which is 13 kms away.
We provide healthy, home-cooked food. Why would you want to eat in a restaurant when you get good food at the farm itself?
Can I bring my food from outside?
Technically, you can. While we have restrictions on self-cooking, there is no limitation for you to bring food from outside. But why bother when you get good, clean, organic, healthy food that we cook for you.
What can we expect in terms of activities to do?
There are plenty of activities for you to keep yourself busy with at the farm.
Hands-on Farming: The speciality of the farmhouse is that it is located amidst a working farm. There are farming activities that happen on a daily basis. We encourage guests to come join in and experience farming first hand. It’s good fun.
Swimming Ponds: We have two large, Olympic sized ponds filled with rain water. These are excellent for swimming or just wallowing about. We have tyre tubes which can be used for floatation in case you are not comfortable with swimming.
Outdoor Showers: We have outdoor showers which are awesome to take a bath under the sky. These showers are situated amidst greenery and they are fantastic fun.
Farm Tour: We can take you on a guided walking tour of the farm and explain to you. This is a good way to learn about different fruiting trees and plants. This is a good educational experience.
Farm Animals: The best part of farm stay is to spend time with the animals. There are cows, calves, sheep, horse, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowls, chickens and pigeons. You can spend quality time feeding and taking care of them.
What are the indoor activities for a family?
We have indoor games like Chess, Monopoly, Ludo, Snake & Ladder, and Playing cards. Please request us and we will provide them to you. After you have finished playing, you can return them back to us for safekeeping.
What are the activities one can do outside of the farm?
Long Walks: It is wonderful to go for long walks surrounding the farm. It is especially wonderful to go for these walks early morning or late evening for a very pleasant experience. You also get to meet wonderful people along the way.
Trekking at Chenji: The historically significant town of Chenji (Gingee) is located just a half hour drive from the farm. There are two hillocks on top of which are wonderful fortresses. They make for a wonderful explorative trek.
Can I bring children? What are the activities for children?
Ofcourse, you can bring children. Kids have a great time at the farm. They love the open spaces. 13 acres is a large playground for them. Kids are fascinated by farm animals. We have cows, calves, pony, dogs and puppies. We also have indoor games. Please ask us and we will help you with them.
Is it safe for the children at the farm?
Vaksana Farms is very safe for children. Like everywhere else, we encourage adult supervision for children.
Can I conduct retreats here for small groups?
Ofcourse, you can. We have three farmhouses and two pods which can accommodate up to 30 people. The best part of conducting retreats here is that your group will have the entire farm for themselves. It is quite secluded and very peaceful. Lots of shady areas at the farm for you to have meetups.
Can I have a birthday party at the farm?
We love special celebratory occasions at the farm. However, please note that we do not allow loud music nor do we allow alcohol. We request our guests to respect the quiet nature of the farm.
Are you willing to host corporate outings/events?
Yes, we are more than willing to host corporate events and offsite team building activities. Kiruba, the co-owner of the farm, has experience conducting leadership retreats and will be happy to host it for your organization. Vaksana farms is ideal for conducting offsites with a rural, village theme. We can come up with very unique village themed activities that will be extremely memorable for the employees.
Can we conduct a cultural program there?
While you can certainly conduct cultural programs, please note that we do not encourage loud music or glaring lights. The farm is a quiet peaceful place and we would want to keep it this way. We also don’t have a physical hall yet but there are lots of shaded places in the farm to conduct events.
Can we have a family function at the farm stay?
Yes, you can . Family functions are good fun. We love hosting family reunions. This is a wonderful place for celebration. (P.S: Please note that we don’t encourage alcohol consumption at the farm.).
Can I volunteer to do the farm activities?
Yes, we welcome volunteers at the farm. Please note that you need to be genuinely interested in farming and sustainable living for it to be a good experience for you. We are ardent WWOOFers ourselves and have stayed and volunteered at farms in other countries. If you are interested in volunteering at Vaksana Farms, please reach out to Kiruba Shankar at Kiruba@Kiruba.com or call him at +91 9841597744.
What clothes should we bring?
Bring light colored, loose clothing. We recommend t-shirts and shorts. The climate can be quite hot in the afternoons and we recommend getting a cap or hat. Get extra pairs of dresses as we have nice swimming ponds. We have a washing machine at the farm which you can use.
Can we make a day visit to the farm without staying overnight?
Yes, we have a day visit program. This is great for families to visit the farm without the need to stay overnight at the farm. Please call Sujani at 9841282266 for more details and for you to book a slot.
Can we pluck fruits at the farm?
We have a ‘U Pick’ scheme where you can pluck and buy the fruits at the farm. Please approach us when you want to harvest yourself. We will provide you with baskets and a weighing scale. The rates are close to market rates. The beauty is the experience of you plucking them yourself.
Do you have an option for monthly rentals?
We have only three farmhouses and these are booked for daily rentals. We have two pods which are great for couples or solo travelers. The pods are great for long term stays. We have had guests who have stayed for multiple weeks. Please call Sujani at 9841282266 for discussing long stay options.
Can we do Goseva at the farm?
You can do Goseva at the farm and the cows will thank you for it. This facility is available for guests who stay at the farmhouse.
Can we have campfires?
Yes, we can arrange for campfires. There will be an additional cost of Rs.500 to buy the firewood. Campfires are an excellent way to get the group around for some hearty fun.
What farm animals do you have?
We have cows, sheep, horse, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens, and pigeons. You will love feeding and interacting with the farm animals.
Are you planning to have more farm animals?
Oh yes, we are. We are huge lovers of animals and birds. We want to adopt donkeys and pigs. We will have these at the farm after we make arrangements for their accommodation at the farm. We are quite excited about expanding the variety of farm animals at the farm.
Can I feed the farm animals?
Of course, you can. All the farm animals are super friendly and easy to interact. When you feed them, they will start liking you instantly. It’s a very nice experience.
Can we bring pets?
Yes, we are a pet-friendly farm. You can bring one pet along with you.
Are there any rules and conditions for pets that we should be aware of?
A couple of them for you to take note of.
1) Please ensure that your pet does not chew, bite or damage any stuff in the farmhouse.
2) Please ensure that you take the pets on regular walks so that the pet does not urinate or defecate inside the farmhouse.
3) We have friendly dogs at the farm. At first, their territorial instincts will kick in and they will bark at your pet. After a while, they will calm down and become friendly.
Do I need to bring my pet's bed?
Sure. If your pet prefers his/bed, do bring it along. We provide beds for pets as well.
Can you provide food for our pet?
If your pet needs specific food, we recommend you bring it along with you. If its simple rice, we can cook it for your pet at a small cost.
How safe is the farmhouse?
The farm is very safe. We have been living on the farm for 14 years. This is a very nice village with very friendly and helpful people. The farmhouses where you will be staying is a walking distance from the house where we stay inside the farm. We also have full-time caretakers staying at the farm. We have farm dogs that are alert at the farm. You will be very safe at the farm.
The farmhouse is located in a remote place. Will it be scary staying alone?
No, it won’t be. While you will be staying at the farm by yourself, you will have people living at the farm. This is the best of both worlds. You get your own privacy and exclusivity along with the company of people who live a bit farther for company and safety.
What about reptiles and insects?
Just like there are birds in the sky and fishes in the sea, expect to have some reptiles and insects at the farm. It is quite natural. However, there is no need to worry as it is quite safe. The occasional snakes are mostly non-venomous and they want nothing to do with us humans. At night, we recommend you use a torchlight. By using commonsense and a bit of alertness, we can easily avoid any interaction with the reptiles. Trust us when we say this because we have been living on the farm for the past 11 years.